The Mongols were a ferocious people who conquered many lands under the strong leadership of Genghis and Kublai Khan. From their origins in Asia to the growth of their empire that stretched from the Pacific Ocean to Eastern Europe, their inspiration for Europe lasted for centuries. Good and bad things came from them, but overall their reign was aimed at improving European culture. The progress Europe made in the 1200s could not have been achieved without the successes of the Mongol Empire. It all began with the Mongol Empire that arose from the steppes of Central Asia. Starting as a mostly nomadic people, several rival clans were all brought together by a man called Genghis Khan. With the new leader's army, much of the Asian lands were soon under his control. However, the Mongols failed to conquer China during Genghis' lifetime. His descendants, mainly Kublai Khan, were later able to expand into Chinese lands, and there created a period of peace called Pax Mongolica. The previously ruined Silk Road was rebuilt under Mongol rule, which allowed the exchange of knowledge to be more accessible to both Western and Eastern Europe (Prentice Hall's World History). During the time of the Mongol Peace, Europe was just beginning to advance beyond the point of the Middle Ages. Soon all of Europe would know that a new era of death and devastation would begin. As the Mongols made their way across Asia and Eastern Europe, they brought with them a disease. That disease was known as the bubonic plague, or Black Death. It was transported to Europe along the Silk Road by mouse fleas. With no cure available at the time, it wiped out a third of Europe's population (Szczepanski). It would take decades for Europe... middle of the paper... to divide the various cultural interpretations of the medieval Church into red. While many people still see the Mongols as a ruthless force that conquered many territories and caused much devastation, it is easy to see now that God has placed everything on Earth, for better or worse, for His ultimate glory. Works Cited "Four Inventions of Ancient China: Paper Making, Gunpowder, Printing, Compass." Four inventions of ancient China: papermaking, gunpowder, printing, compass. Np, nd Web. November 14, 2013. Ellis, Elisabeth Nor., Anthony Esler, and Burton Beers. "Chapter 12 Section 2." History of the World by Prentice Hall. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007. “The Renaissance: Rebirth of Europe.” The Renaissance. Np, nd Web. November 12, 2013 Szczepanski, Kallie. “What effect did the Mongols have on Europe?” About.com Asian History. Np, nd Web. November 12. 2013.