As spectacular as its creation was, the fall of the Mongol Empire was just as remarkable. Its descent into chaos was signaled by inter-family rebellion across the four khanates established by Genghis Khan. As weaker Mongol leaders struggled to retain control, drought, flood, famine, and the bubonic plague eventually contributed to the collapse of each khanate. As this volume amply demonstrates, though the Mongols were fierce warriors, their legacy also includes a culture of honor and discipline, centralized government structure, trade promotion and communication routes, and religious tolerance—all of which helped spread wealth, information, and technology across two continents.
