Discuss the fragmentation of Mongol tribes after the death of Genghis Khan. How did religion influence local adherence to Mongol branches?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

ANSWER:
Before his death, Genghis Khan had already started to rely on family members and highly placed generals to rule a great deal of territory. Following his death, Mongolia continued to rule over the Golden Horde, the Central Asian Jagadai domains, and the Il-khans of Iran. The unity of the Mongol Empire began to disintegrate when several branches refused to accept Khubilai as the Grand Khan, and he subsequently established the Yuan reign in China. Central Asia's adherence to the Jagadai traditions and Turkic culture led to hatred of the Yuan Empire, which subsequently asserted itself over China and Vietnam (Annam). The Golden Horde remained predominant in Russia and tolerated the Orthodox Church. In some historians' opinion, Alexander Nevskii's alliance with the Golden Horde in return for religious toleration preserved the "Russian-ness" of the church; thus Russia repelled the Teutonic Knights. There was rivalry between the Golden Horde's Muslim leaders and the Il-khans, which had overthrown the Abbasid Caliphate in 1258, but it was mostly political rather than religious rivalry, and the Il-khan leader Ghazan became a Muslim in 1295. In general, there was little connection between religion and feuding branches of Mongol descendants, and rivalries were based on politics rather than religion.