Changes

==Mongol Empire==

==Mongol Empire==

Previously comprising numerous separate (and sometimes warring) clans or tribes, the Mongols were united under Genghis Khan, who was elected Great Khan in [[1206]] by elders of the leading clans. Genghis Khan incorporated many of those who followed him into the Mongol identity, forming an army numbering 130,000 Mongols at its height, along with another 130,000 non-Mongol warriors. His armies swept across the Eurasian plains, capturing much of Central Asia, Persia, the Middle East, and parts of Russia by the time of his death in [[1227]]. By that time, he also captured [[Beijing]], destroyed the [[Tangut]] state of [[Xi Xia]], and clashed with the [[Jurchen]] [[Jin Dynasty]].

Previously comprising numerous separate (and sometimes warring) clans or tribes, the Mongols were united under [[Genghis Khan]] (Temujin), who was elected Great Khan in [[1206]] by elders of the leading clans. Genghis Khan incorporated many of those who followed him into the Mongol identity, forming an army numbering 130,000 Mongols at its height, along with another 130,000 non-Mongol warriors. His armies swept across the Eurasian plains, capturing much of Central Asia, Persia, the Middle East, and parts of Russia by the time of his death in [[1227]]. By that time, he also captured [[Beijing]], destroyed the [[Tangut]] state of [[Xi Xia]], and clashed with the [[Jurchen]] [[Jin Dynasty]].

Under Genghis Khan's successor, [[Ogodei Khan]] (r. [[1228]]-[[1241]]), the Mongol capital of Karakorum was built up in [[1235]] into a proper city, with city walls and permanent buildings (rather than being a collection of nomads' yurts). Ogodei Khan moved into Korea in [[1231]] (completing the conquest of Korea in [[1259]]) while also expanding into northern China, taking [[Kaifeng]] in [[1233]] and [[Luoyang]] in [[1234]], destroying the Jurchen Jin Dynasty state in the process. The Mongol armies then moved south and conquered [[Sichuan province]] in [[1236]]-[[1238]].

Under Genghis Khan's successor, [[Ogodei Khan]] (r. [[1228]]-[[1241]]), the Mongol capital of Karakorum was built up in [[1235]] into a proper city, with city walls and permanent buildings (rather than being a collection of nomads' yurts). Ogodei Khan moved into Korea in [[1231]] (completing the conquest of Korea in [[1259]]) while also expanding into northern China, taking [[Kaifeng]] in [[1233]] and [[Luoyang]] in [[1234]], destroying the Jurchen Jin Dynasty state in the process. The Mongol armies then moved south and conquered [[Sichuan province]] in [[1236]]-[[1238]].