The Mongol role in world history has gained wider appreciation in the last decade.  Indeed, many world historians have concluded that the origins of our modern era began with the Mongol conquests of the thirteenth century.  To observe this military process, run the map by clicking the following icon at the end of this paragraph.  Using the maps at National Geographic Society, list various regions that Mongol conquest and Mongol domains connected. 

But this animated map only reveals one aspect of the processes unleashed by the Mongols.  Geography played a huge role in the Mongols' impact on world history.  Not only did geography influence the emergence of Mongol culture, the location of their homeland and their conquests was crucial to their legacy. 

To begin exploring the impact of location on these processes, go to The Effect of Climate on History. Also see The Pastoral Nomadic Life. 
 

• How were relations between the peoples of Central Asia such as the Mongols and other regions of Eurasia affected by geography?
• Where was the Mongols homeland?  How did the environment of this region shape their culture?  How did it shape their military capabilities?

For further exploration of the processes that the Mongols initiated, read the following essays:
 

• The Mongol Conquests
• The Mongols' Mark on Global History
• The Mongols
• The Legacy of the Mongols

As you peruse the above links, keep the following questions in mind.
 

• What cultures and societies came under their rule? 
• How did the Mongols respond to the diverse cultures within their realms?
• How did Mongols catalyze unprecedented cross cultural contact and between whom?
• What other peoples were strongly affected by Mongol conquests, even if they did not come under the direct rule of Mongols?

To further explore the last question above, read the list at the Medieval Technology Timeline: 1100-1300 of technology that first appeared in Europe at the western end of the Eurasian continent during this time.  Now compare this list to Chinese Inventions.  How did the Mongols facilitate this transfer?

But more than technology, luxury items, and people traversed the Mongol realms and surrounding eras during this time.  In the fourteenth century, much of the urban areas of the Eurasian continents endured the infamous Bubonic Plague which killed up to one third of the areas it affected.  To trace the path of the Plague, click the icon below.

 Where did the Plague first appear?  What path did it take?  Can you identify the major areas it infected?  How did the Mongol conquests contribute to the outbreak of such a widespread pandemic?   For further information see:
 

• The Black Death: The Bubonic Plague
• Ibn Khaldun: The Plague in the Middle East  (Scroll Down)

After completing these exercises, describe the importance of geography in understanding the Mongol legacy on history.  What long distance processes did the Mongols unleash through their actions?  How did these processes affect world history?