Silk Road commerce during the Mongol Empire (13th–14th centuries)

1. Mongol Empire founded, enabling route unification

   Jan 1, 1206Labels: Chinggis Khan, Mongol Empire

   • Britannica
   • Mongol Empire

2. Ögedei expands the yam relay-post network

   Jan 1, 1234Labels: gedei Khan, yam system

   • gedei Khan
   • Yam

3. Rubruck reaches Karakorum via Mongol trade-road

   Jan 4, 1254Labels: William of, Karakorum

   • Rubruck
   • Museo Galileo

4. Baghdad sacked; Ilkhanate power expands westward

   Feb 10, 1258Labels: H leg, Baghdad

   • Britannica
   • Mongol Empire

5. Mamluks halt Mongol advance at Ayn Jalut

   Sep 3, 1260Labels: Mamluks, Ayn Jalut

   • Britannica
   • Ayn Jalut

6. Genoese establish Caffa as Black Sea hub

   Jan 1, 1266Labels: Genoa, Caffa

   • Genoese Gazaria
   • Caffa Siege

7. General Administration for Ortogh established

   Jan 1, 1268Labels: Kublai Khan, Ortogh

   • Ortogh
   • Mongol Empire

8. Marco Polo begins trans-Eurasian journey

   Jan 1, 1271Labels: Marco Polo, Venetian merchants

   • Britannica
   • Marco Polo

9. Kublai proclaims Yuan dynasty in China

   Dec 18, 1271Labels: Kublai Khan, Yuan dynasty

   • Yuan dynasty
   • Britannica

10. Black Sea “crossroads” trade axes consolidate under Mongols

    Jan 1, 1290Labels: Golden Horde, Ilkhanate

    • Brill Cioc ltan

11. Ibn Battuta travels through Mongol-ruled West Asia

    Nov 17, 1326Labels: Ibn Battuta, West Asia

    • Ibn Battuta
    • Britannica

12. Genoa administers Tana, connecting steppe and sea trade

    Jan 1, 1332Labels: Genoa, Tana

    • Tanais
    • Brill Cioc ltan

13. Ilkhan Abu Sa'id dies; Ilkhanate fragments

    Jan 1, 1335Labels: Abu Sa'id, Ilkhanate

    • Britannica
    • Ilkhanate

14. Siege of Caffa and plague transmission via trade corridors

    Jan 1, 1346Labels: Siege of, plague pandemic

    • UNESCO
    • Caffa Siege