Eurasia is Europe and Asia combined, a vast territory that hosted many civilizations. Passing through Eurasia is the famous Silk Road where trade and cultural exchange flourished. A formidable army emerged and terrorized Eurasia in the 13th century; they siege, sack and burn! Less mentioned were their military genius that led to the formation of the biggest land empire in history stretching from the Pacific to the Mediterranean: The Mongol Empire. The politically stable period saw the Silk Road trade flourishing once again under a single administration. Traders and Artisan exchanged and moved, and Eurasia became more connected than ever before. Lands from the Mongol Empire presents the compilation of visual stories that connect the land, culture and people that were linked by the Mongol Empire.

The Mongol Empire started when Temujin became Chinggis Khan, the Universal Khan, proclaimed at the Siberian Taiga in Eastern Mongolia. Many of his conquests were accompanied by his sons, eldest was Jochi, followed by Chagatai, Ogedei and Tolui. He died in 1227, and the empire expanded to its greatest at the end of the 13th century, stretching from the Pacific to the Mediterranean, the biggest land empire in history. Ironically, civil wars had disintegrated the empire into four khanates: The Great Khan Khanate (Yuan Dynasty, China and Mongolia), Chagatai Khanate (Central Asia), Il-Khanate (Persia), and the Golden Horde (Russia and Siberia). Yuan Dynasty under Khublai Khan was an unprecedented period for the Mongols; trade flourished throughout Eurasia, and when Marco Polo travelled to China and eventually served the great khan. This is also the period when Khublai attempted seafaring and jungle warfares to Japan, Pagan, Dai Viet, Cham, and Java, albeit with little success. The growth and death of the empire was dramatic, and its influences on Eurasia are evident.

FootNotes

Huangshan

Muslim Quarter vs Jewish Quarter

an introduction

the most liberal in Europe

the iconic river across the red river

A Jewish Festival of Light