“The Battle of Diaoyu City” And Its Impact on The Mongol Empire, The Southern Song Dynasty, And the European Landscape

The Mongol Empire in the 13th century was unprecedentedly powerful, establishing a vast empire on the grasslands and setting its sights on the Eastern Song Dynasty. Led by Genghis Khan, the Mongol army launched a three-pronged invasion of the Song Dynasty. However, unexpectedly, Genghis Khan died under the walls of Diaoyu City, leading to a series of significant changes within the Mongol Empire. First, Kublai Khan was forced to withdraw his troops from Xiangyang, giving the Song Dynasty a breathing space. Then, the internal war between Ariq Böke and Kublai Khan resulted in Kublai Khan's victory but also caused the fragmentation of the Mongol Empire. Lastly, the commander of the Western Expeditionary Army, Hulagu, participated in the struggle for the Khanate, leading to the ultimate abandonment of the last Mongol Western Expedition and sparing Africa from the ravages of war.