Around AD 1205, a tribal leader emerged in Mongolia. His name was Temujin. He united the many different tribes and established written laws, known as the yasa that guided the actions of Mongolians throughout their entire empire. Temujin also established a powerful army. As a result of his military successes, people began to refer him as ‘Khan’ or king- and in time, he became known as Genghis Khan.
Through cunning diplomacy, spiritual mission, and brute force, Genghis Khan unified the Mongols, and then set out east and west to swiftly conquer vast parts of Asia. By 1280, Mongol rule stretched from China’s Yellow Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, a total of 12 million square miles. Incredibly, in a span of just 25 years, Genghis Khan’s horse-men conquered a greater population than the Romans did in four centuries.
After his death, the kingdom was divided among his four sons. Later, Khan’s grandson successfully led the Mongol army.