1. Leadership of Genghis Khan: Genghis Khan or Temüjin became the leader of a unified Mongol tribe in 1206. He was an adept military strategist and charismatic leader who united previously warring tribes under a single banner.
2. Nomadic Lifestyle: Mongols were nomadic pastoralists who needed vast pastures for their herds of horses and livestock. The limited availability of grazing lands and resources in Mongolia prompted Genghis Khan to seek new territories for expansion.
3. Economic Motives: The Mongols sought wealth, resources, and booty to enrich themselves and sustain their growing empire. They raided and plundered neighboring regions for valuable goods, livestock, and slaves.
4. Internal Power Struggles: To consolidate his power, Genghis Khan needed to keep his followers engaged in conquest. Wars and expansion provided opportunities for skilled warriors to rise through the ranks and gain power.
5. Mongol Military Superiority: The Mongol army had several military advantages, including superior horsemanship, effective communication systems, skilled use of composite bows, and formidable tactics such as feigned retreats and coordinated assaults.
Eastward Invasion:
1. Korean Provocation: In 1211, the Goryeo Kingdom of Korea began raids and provocations against the Mongol border regions. These hostile acts prompted Genghis Khan's retaliation and the first Mongol invasion of Korea in 1218.
2. Trade Control: The Eastern Silk Road passed through Central Asia and East Asia, making trade and resources important factors in Mongol expansion eastward. Control of these trade routes brought economic benefits.
3. Military Strategy: The Mongols used conquest to secure their western and northern territories and then moved eastward, conquering the Song Dynasty in China and other East Asian kingdoms. Genghis Khan believed in preemptive strikes to subdue potential threats.
4. Legacy and Continuity: After Genghis Khan's death in 1227, his successors, including Ögedei Khan and Kublai Khan, continued the expansionist policies eastward. They consolidated conquests, established tributary relationships with neighboring states, and expanded the Mongol Empire.
5. Cultural Exchange: As the Mongols expanded eastward, they also facilitated cultural exchange between East and West. Knowledge, technologies, artistic styles, and religious beliefs were transmitted across vast distances, enriching the cultures of conquered societies.