Silk Road Expansion and the Pax Mongolica (c. 1200–1368)

1. Genghis Khan unifies Mongols, enabling empire-wide routes

   Jan 1, 1206Labels: Genghis Khan, Mongol Empire

   • Britannica
   • Met Museum

2. Khwarazmian campaign opens Central Asian trade arteries

   Jan 1, 1219Labels: Khwarazmian, Transoxiana

   • Britannica
   • Britannica

3. Mongol conquest of Jin intensifies north China exchange

   Jan 1, 1234Labels: Jin Dynasty, North China

   • Britannica
   • Met Museum

4. Ögedei formalizes empire-wide Yam postal stations

   Jan 1, 1234Labels: Yam System, gedei Khan

   • Britannica
   • Wikipedia

5. Battle of Köse Dağ extends Mongol influence into Anatolia

   Jun 26, 1243Labels: K se, Seljuk Sultanate

   • Wikipedia
   • Britannica

6. Papal mission to Mongols begins trans-Eurasian reporting

   Apr 16, 1245Labels: Papal Mission, John of

   • Wikipedia
   • Washington Silkroad

7. William of Rubruck travels to Möngke’s court

   Sep 16, 1253Labels: William of, M ngke

   • Wikipedia
   • Springer

8. Mongol conquests culminate in capture of Baghdad

   Feb 10, 1258Labels: Siege of, H leg

   • Britannica
   • Britannica

9. Yuan capital moved to Dadu (Beijing)

   Jan 1, 1267Labels: Dadu Beijing, Yuan Dynasty

   • Britannica
   • Met Museum

10. Creation of Ortogh administration supports merchant finance

    Jan 1, 1268Labels: Orto Ortoq, Kublai Khan

    • Wikipedia

11. Marco Polo departs for Asia via Mongol routes

    Jan 1, 1271Labels: Marco Polo, Polo Family

    • Encyclopedia com
    • Britannica

12. Kublai Khan founds Yuan, deepening Eurasian connectivity

    Dec 18, 1271Labels: Kublai Khan, Yuan Founding

    • Britannica

13. Marco Polo reaches Kublai Khan’s court (approx.)

    Jan 1, 1275Labels: Marco Polo, Kublai's Court

    • Britannica
    • Wikipedia

14. Marco Polo begins maritime return from Yuan China

    Jan 1, 1292Labels: Quanzhou, Maritime Route

    • Encyclopedia com
    • Britannica

15. Ilkhanate paper-money experiment disrupts Iranian commerce

    Sep 12, 1294Labels: Ilkhanate, Gaykhatu

    • Wikipedia

16. Black Death peaks as disease spreads along Silk Roads

    Jan 1, 1347Labels: Black Death, Silk Roads

    • UNESCO

17. Red Turban Rebellions destabilize Yuan transport and taxation

    Jan 1, 1351Labels: Red Turbans, Yuan Dynasty

    • Wikipedia
    • Britannica

18. Ming overthrow of Yuan ends Pax Mongolica era

    Jan 1, 1368Labels: Ming Dynasty, Yuan Overthrow

    • Britannica
    • Britannica