An Explosion From Mongolia
1206 AD
1206 1206
107.00E48.00N
MISC

MONGOLIA
	In  the late 10th and early 11th centuries, an obscure tribal conflict in the remote steppes of northern Asia was being decided.  It resulted in one of the darkest hours in world history.
	From his youth, a Mongol chieftain named Temujin fought other tribal leaders, gradually growing in strength until by 1206, when he was 56, he had unified these mounted herdsmen into a nomadic empire.
	In the remaining 21 years of his life, Temujin -- now called Genghis Khan -- almost effortlessly conquered from the Pacific Ocean to the Dnieper River in Russia, defeating armies, leveling cities and slaughtering civilians unmercifully.  China, the Khwarezmian Empire (in south-central Asia) and Russia fell easily.
	In the 14 years following his death, Genghis Khan's generals overran Poland and Hungary, obliterating every European army that faced them.  Then, in 1241, Genghis Khan's successor, Ogdai, died.  Though Europe was now defenseless, the Mongol armies suddenly turned around and left, possibly to help select a new leader.  They never again returned to Europe.