The Mongols were nomadic herders, herding their animals throughout the eastern and western Asia Steppes. They relied heavily on their animals using them for food, clothing and trade. They followed their animals as they migrated because of the extreme temperatures changes and lack of water,  because of that the animals often went back to places they knew. The Mongols traveled together in clans, these were groups of people all of whom were family or very close friends. Clans would often fight for land but if they were in danger from large groups they would unite as one. They often traveled in their clans, herding their animals on horseback. Being skilled on horseback, therefore gave them some advantages in warfare, one important piece of this was because of the invention of stirrups. Stirrups kept them on the horse why it was traveling at fast speeds. They were also good warriors because they traveled in yurts, these were moving  villages.  Families  were never homesick or separated so they never never felt like going home like in the Alexander the Great’s empire.

     Temujin, who was a ruler, was able to create allies between all of the different Mongolian clans. With this dominant power sweeping through Asia, they conquered much of Central Asia. He was a skilled leader in battle and coordination. He organized the strongest Mongolian warriors making them a terrorizing sight. Temujin was a smart trickster he often confused his enemy and conquered them easily. He would often kill whole villages of his conquered to send harsh examples of why not to rebel against him.  All the surrounding dynasties were terrified of the Mongols, the dynasties did not think that the Mongols would invade, but then Temujin died. When he died, the Mongols stayed strong conquering China and invading Korea. The Mongols were the biggest unified empire. In 1260, the Mongols divided the empire into four khanates.

    Pax mongolica was a way for the conquered and neighboring empires to not feel threatened and trade with the Mongols, to create peace with each other. This was peace across the empire so anyone that came in could trade without feeling threatened, this also meant that caravans could trade without feeling threatened. Gunpowder and porcelain were at high demand between Europe and the Mongols. The Mongols brought many new inventions to europe when they traded.

    The empire ended when the Yuan Dynasty began. It ended then because the ruler of the Mongols, the Great Khan, who ruled the Khanates, attacked China and won. After he conquered China, the Great Khan created his own dynasty, the Yuan Dynasty. After the Great Khan became the emperor of China the Mongols stopped being nomadic and stayed in one place.