How Did The Mongols Change The World Or Did They?

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How Did the Mongols Change the World---Or Did They?
Introduction
The Mongolian nomadic armies, led by their leader, Genghis Khan, burst out from Mongolia in 1211 and invaded most parts of Eurasia. While the Great Khan passed on in 1227, his generation continued the Mongol Empire expansion across China, Central Asia, Europe and the Middle East (Szczepanski np). The Mongol invasions were amongst the most devastating incursions in world history. Historians note that few recorded historical events caused by human activities such as combats may not have achieved a similar magnitude as these invasions until the 19th and 20th centuries. Other historical accounts report that although there were significant negative impacts of these invasions, they also created opportunities for some areas while other regions experienced a fall in their fortunes. While the 13th century Mongol invasion has been described as violent, disparaging, and disruptive to urban life and trade in many regions in China and Eastern Europe, the Mongols are credited for the long peaceful period, the Pax Mongolica, Renaissance in Europe, and changes in global power and long-term demographics.
Though characterized by violence during the initial conquest, the Mongols ushered in a period of prolonged peace known as the Pax Mongolica. Prior to the Mongol invasions, many states were used to rivalries that restricted interactions between them. Contrary, the Mongol dominion facilitated new connections and it was eventually easier to traverse between China and Eastern Europe. The Mongols then acquired technical knowledge and skills and gained more taxes to expand the empire. Consequently, the conquest resulted in a relatively political calmness in most parts of Eurasia (Parker & Bentley 94). Therefore, while the Mongolia invasions have always been considered violent, the Mongols ensured there was a long lasting following the initial conquest.
The ease of travel across Eurasia following the conquest facilitated free flow of knowledge and information across Europe and China giving rise to the Renaissance. In Europe, explorers like Marco Polo could easily navigate through the Silk Road across Eurasia with reduced banditry and deter...