What were the major conquests of the Mongol Empire?

The Mongol Empire, under the leadership of Genghis Khan and his successors, embarked on a series of major conquests that expanded their empire to become the largest contiguous land empire in history. Some of the major conquests of the Mongol Empire include:

1. Northern China: The Mongols conquered the Jin Dynasty in 1234, establishing their rule over northern China. They later overthrew the Southern Song Dynasty in 1279, unifying China under their rule.

2. Central Asia: The Mongols conquered the Khwarazmian Empire, which spanned parts of present-day Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan, in the early 13th century. They also conquered the Western Xia Dynasty in present-day northwestern China.

3. Eastern Europe: The Mongols launched multiple invasions into Eastern Europe, known as the Mongol Invasions or Mongol-Tatar invasions. They conquered the Kievan Rus' principalities, including modern-day Ukraine and Belarus, and reached as far west as Poland and Hungary.

4. Persia and the Middle East: The Mongols conquered the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad in 1258, effectively ending the Islamic Golden Age. They also conquered the Ayyubid Sultanate of Egypt and Syria, as well as various other smaller states in the region.

5. Korea and Japan: The Mongols attempted to invade Korea multiple times in the late 13th century, but were ultimately unsuccessful in fully conquering the peninsula. They also launched two failed invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281, known as the Mongol invasions of Japan.

These conquests not only expanded the Mongol Empire's territory but also facilitated cultural and economic exchanges between different regions, known as the Pax Mongolica. The Mongol Empire's conquests had a significant impact on the history and development of the regions they conquered.