The Positive And Negative Impact Of The Mongols

“Remember, you have no companions but your shadow” -Gengis Khan. Genghis Khan was the leader of the Mongol tribe. During the thirteenth century, the Mongols conquered land from Persia to China. As seen in the quote, Gengis Khan was a man who had a specific way he wanted things done. He was determined to make things go his way no matter what. Whether the Mongols had a positive or negative impact on Eurasia is very controversial. While most people believe their impact was harmful, I believe the impact they created favorably changed Eurasia. Although the Mongols were insensitive to Chinese culture, they also re-established the Silk Road and created effective technology, creating an overall positive impact on Eurasia.

During the Mongol conquest,

Because of the immense amount of Mongols during their conquest, the Chinese were vastly outnumbered, letting the Mongols be in complete control. The Chinese were not fond of Genghis Khan and his Mongols because they believed the Mongols were only interested in killing and destroying. An example of this would be a quote from a major scholar of Chinese history, which read: “The Mongols brought violence and destruction to all aspects of China's civilization. [They were] insensitive to Chinese cultural values, distrustful of Chinese influences, and inept heads of Chinese government.” As illustrated in the quote, the Chinese believed the Mongols wanted to do nothing but harm Eurasia during their conquest. In addition, the Mongols eliminated one of the main Chinese practices - the civil service examinations. The Mongols stopped this Chinese institution so no one could practice any tradition that was not theirs. Even though the Mongols took control of China when most Chinese were not in favor of it, they

Because of the extension of the Mongol Empire, the Mongols were able to control the Silk Road which had been previously dangerous to travel. The reopening of the Silk Road significantly increased the amount of trade in Eurasia. People started trading items such as silk, gunpowder, and paper. Not only did the increase in trade allow people to achieve items they couldn’t before, but it also helped traders make more profit. With the prosperous amount of trade along the Silk Road, the prices of traded goods increased. The increase in prices led to traders acquiring a considerable profit and overall making them more successful. Aside from trade, the Mongols also helped the Silk Road become culturally diverse. The Mongols allowed people from different religions and cultures to access the Silk Road. The integration of people from conquered regions brought freedom of worship to the Mongol Empire, making it more diverse. The recreation of the Silk Road and its’ positive outcomes majorly impacted the people in