Genghis Khan's Death

Genghis Khan died in 1227, soon after the submission of the Xi Xia. The exact
cause of his death is unknown. Some historians maintain that he fell off a
horse while on a hunt, and died of fatigue and injuries. Others contend that he
died of respiratory disease. Genghis Khan was buried without markings,
according to the customs of his tribe, somewhere near his birthplace—close to
the Onon River and the Khentii Mountains in northern Mongolia. According to
legend, the funeral escort killed anyone and anything they encountered to
conceal the location of the burial site, and a river was diverted over Genghis
Khan's grave to make it impossible to find.

Before his death, Genghis Khan bestowed supreme leadership to his son
Ogedei, who controlled most of eastern Asia, including China. The rest of the
empire was divided among his other sons: Chagatai took over central Asia
and northern Iran; Tolui, being the youngest, received a small territory near
the Mongol homeland; and Jochi (who was killed before Genghis Khan's
death). Jochi and his son, Batu, took control of modern Russia and formed the
Golden Horde. The empire's expansion continued and reached its peak under
Ogedei Khan's leadership. Mongol armies eventually invaded Persia, the
Song Dynasty in southern China, and the Balkans. Just when the Mongol
armies had reached the gates of Vienna, Austria, leading commander Batu
got word of the Great Khan Ogedei's death and was called back to Mongolia.
Subsequently, the campaign lost momentum, marking the Mongol's farthest
invasion into Europe.

Among the many descendents of Genghis Khan is Kublai Khan, who was the
son of Tolui, Genghis Khan's youngest son. At a young age, Kublai had a
strong interest in Chinese civilization and, throughout his life, did much to
incorporate Chinese customs and culture into Mongol rule. Kublai rose to
prominence in 1251, when his eldest brother, Mongke, became Khan of the
Mongol Empire and placed him as governor of the southern territories. Kublai
distinguished himself by increasing agricultural production and expanding
Mongol territory. After Mongke's death, Kublai and his other brother, Arik
Boke, fought for control of the empire. After three years of intertribal warfare,
Kublai was victorious, and he was made Great Khan and emperor of the Yuan
Dynasty of China.