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Mongols

Representational image of a Chinese naval battle. Source: Public domain

The Battle of Lake Poyang and Its Pivotal Impact on China

The Battle of Lake Poyang stands as one of the largest naval engagements in recorded history, showcasing the might and strategic prowess of warring factions during the tumultuous period of the rise...
A 14th century depiction of the siege of Baghdad by the Mongols in 1258, which brought the Abbasid Caliphate to an end. Source: Public Domain

Medieval Baghdad: Rise and Fall of the City of Peace (Video)

The history of Medieval Baghdad epitomizes the grandeur and eventual demise of a cultural epicenter. Emerging as the Abbasid Caliphate's capital in the 8th century, Baghdad burgeoned into a thriving...
Representative image of warriors of the Khwarazmian Empire, from a 13th-century Mina’i bowl. Source: Public domain

The Epic Rise and Demise of the Khwarazmian Empire

The Khwarazmian Empire, spanning from the 11th to the 13th centuries, flourished as a formidable power in Central Asia. Situated along the Silk Road, its strategic location fostered vibrant trade and...
AI image of ancient emperor Genghis Khan. Source: Andrea Raffin/Adobe Stock

How Many People Are Actually Related to Genghis Khan? (Video)

The genetic legacy of Genghis Khan , the famed Mongol conqueror, extends far beyond his vast empire. Due to his prolific procreation habits and the polygamous customs of his time, approximately 1 in...
Representational image of a Red Turban warrior. Source: Generated with Adobe Firefly

The Revolutionary Red Turban Rebellion: When Peasants Take Up Arms

The Red Turban Rebellion, which took place from 1351 to 1368, was a pivotal event in Chinese history, marking the decline of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty and the rise of the native Ming Dynasty. This...
Illustration of a great war leader commanding the vast Mongol army on horseback. Source: Kien/Adobe Stock

How Successful Was the Mongol Empire? (Video)

The Mongol Empire, at its zenith, rivaled the British Empire in territorial expanse, controlling around twelve million square miles of land. Emerging in 1279, the Mongol Empire surpassed the Roman...
7th drawing from the first roll of the Illustrated Account of the Mongol invasion of Japan. Source: Public Domain

How the Samurai Defended Against the Mongols (Video)

In the face of Mongol invasions during the Middle Ages, the Kamakura Bakufu and their samurai demonstrated strategic prowess in defending Japan . Often overshadowed by tales of typhoons and samurai...
An aerial view captures a standard segment of the Mongolian Arc wall. Researchers investigating this lesser-known portion of the Great Wall of China have unveiled fresh perspectives on its historical significance. Source: Khaltaryn Balgas (MA21)/Journal of Field Archaeology

‘Mongolian Arc’ Study Reveals Reason for Gaps in the Great Wall of China

For the first time ever, scholars have conducted an analysis of a segment of the Great Wall of China that reaches into Mongolia. Stretched across 405 kilometers (252 mi), this wall, known as the "...
The Ayyubid Empire’s victory against the Crusaders. Image called the Battle of Cresson. Source: Public Domain

Why did the Ayyubid Empire Collapse? (Video)

The Ayyubid Empire, a Sunni Muslim dynasty of Kurdish origin, thrived in the 12th century, ruling over Egypt and the Middle East. Despite initial success under Saladin , the empire's downfall was...
AI representation of female Mongolian generals and warriors on the steppe.  Source: Hui/Adobe Stock

Khutulun: The Mongol Warrior Princess (Video)

In the 13th century, Marco Polo claimed to have encountered the remarkable Khutulun , the great-great-granddaughter of Genghis Khan. Amidst the fragmented Mongol Empire, Khutulun emerged as a...
Genghis Khan has many wives. Source: Hui / Adobe Stock.

The Sad Truth about Genghis Khan's Wives (Video)

Genghis Khan , the famed Mongol leader, is known not only for his vast empire but also for his unique approach to marriage. In an era where alliances and politics played a crucial role, Khan's...
Medieval historian Matt Lewis reviews medieval battles scenes. Source: YouTube Screenshot / History Hit.

How Accurate are Hollywood’s Best Medieval Battle Scenes? (Video)

Matt Lewis, a respected medieval historian, gives his two cents on the historical accuracy of some of the best medieval battle scenes in top movies. One of the films discussed was "The Messenger,"...
Reconstruction of the ancient mosques and buildings of ancient Sarai-Batu. (vesta48/Adobe Stock)

Sarai Batu, the Once-Magnificent Capital of the Golden Horde

The Turko-Mongol Golden Horde was one of history’s most powerful empires, sweeping across the plains of Asia and East Europe, subjugating many kingdoms by their sheer might. And although the Mongols...
Mongolian warriors. Source: Hui / Adobe Stock.

Shadows and Conquest: The Mongols vs The Order of Assassins (Video)

Hidden away in the rugged peaks of Persia and Syria, the Order of Assassins maintained its power by operating in the shadows, striking only when the time was right. But their survival was threatened...
Samurai warrior ready for battle. Source: DigitalGenetics / Adobe Stock.

What a Samurai vs. Mongol Battle Really Looked Like (Video)

The clash between the Mongols and Samurai took place between two legendary classes of warriors. Contrary to popular belief, Samurai did not engage in single combat dueling against the Mongols...
The 1274 and 1281 AD Mongol invasions of Japan were well equipped and favored overall but both times the samurai and their “magical” storms won the day! Two Samurai with a dead Mongol at their feet from a votive image (ema) at the Komodahama Shrine on Tsushima, approximately halfway between Kyushu and the Korean Peninsula. Source: Public domain

When Mongols Met Samurai: The Two Failed Mongol Invasions of Japan

Throughout time, there are a few instances where the weather became a determining factor in the outcome of a battle. The Mongol invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281 AD have often been cited as salient...

Lost Mongol Capital of Karakorum Mapped Properly for the First Time

The city of Karakorum, the 13th century capital of the great Mongol empire was established initially as a camp by Genghis Khan in the Orkhon Valley in 1220, and would be developed by his son and...
The Old Ryazan silver treasure hoard found recently in Ryazan, Russia, which was sacked by the Mongols in the early 12th century AD.        Source: Maxim Pankin / Russian Academy of Sciences

Old Ryazan Treasure Hoard: Memories Of Mongol Sackings in Russia

Russian archaeologists have found yet another silver treasure hoard buried on the banks of a river in a remote forest near Old Ryazan. The so-called “Isad treasure” hoard was recently discovered in...
Death of Muhammad II of Khwarezm. From Jami' al-tawarikh by Rashid-al-Din Hamadani. (Public Domain)

In Pursuit Of The Shah, The Mongols Discover The West

In 1219, Genghis Khan led his armies into the mighty Khwarazmain Empire (present-day Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Iran) and smashed it. The provocation of this attack was due to the mistreatment of...
The wall is part of the World’s largest construction project that spanned 1000s of miles and 1000 years. Source: siew sin audrey sim/EyeEm / Adobe Stock

Original Purpose of World’s Largest Construction Exposed

You could be forgiven for thinking that the Great Pyramids of Egypt or Mexico were the “largest” constructions in the ancient world, but archaeologists have long known that this sublime title is held...
Giant wooden stakes from the Battle of Bach Dang found in northern Vietnam.          Source: vnexpress

Iron Tipped Stakes Detail Guerrilla Warfare of Bach Dang

Newly-discovered ´massive´ and ancient wooden stakes are adding to archaeologists knowledge of the famous Battle of Bạch Dang , when Vietnam repelled the Mongol war fleet by luring ships into a booby...
Sunrise, Old Orhei monastery, Republic of Moldova   Source: Calin Stan/Adobe Stock

The Little-Known Treasure of Beautiful Moldova - Old Orhei

Moldova may be the least visited country in Europe , but it has the largest wine cellar in the world, and a history that stretches back for millennia. Because of its incredible past, it has been home...
Battle between Mongols clans and tribes during the time of Genghis Khan. Source: insima / Adobe Stock.

Mosquito Hordes: How a Pesky Insect Destroyed the ‘Almost’ Invincible Mongol Empire

The inhospitable, remote high steppes and grassland of the austere and windswept northern Asian plateau were occupied by warring tribal clans and duplicitous factions. Alliances were capricious,...
‘Mongols at the Walls of Vladimir’ by Vasily Maksimov. Depiction of Mongols of the Golden Horde outside Vladimir - presumably demanding submission before sacking the city.

The Golden Horde and the Mongol Mission to Conquer Europe

Before Mongol emperor Genghis Khan died in 1227 AD, he divided his vast empire into four khanates (fiefdoms) among three sons and a grandson. The westernmost of these regions was ruled by the Golden...

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