Watch The Mongol Empire

2020
1 Season

The Mongol Empire is a breathtaking and historically rich documentary that provides a deep dive into one of the most powerful empires the world has ever seen. Produced by PBS and available on the Amazon add-on service, this documentary is a must-watch for anyone interested in history, ancient cultures, and world conquerors.

The Mongol Empire was founded in the early 1200s by the legendary Genghis Khan, and over the course of several decades, it grew to become one of the largest empires in history. The documentary takes a comprehensive look at the rise of Genghis Khan to power, his war tactics, and how he went on to unite different tribes and clans under his leadership to form the Mongolian Empire. Viewers will get a glimpse into the life and leadership style of Genghis Khan, who is known for his strategic military prowess and his ability to inspire loyalty among his troops.

With unprecedented access to locations across Mongolia, the documentary takes viewers across the vast expanses of the country, from the rugged grasslands of the plains to the towering mountains of the Altai range. Throughout the series, viewers will have the opportunity to witness the different cultures and tribes that make up this incredible region, and how they influenced the birth and growth of the Mongol Empire. The documentary brings to life the people who lived during this time, and the challenges they faced in uniting under a single banner.

One of the most fascinating aspects of The Mongol Empire is its focus on the legacy of the empire. The documentary explores what happened after Genghis Khan passed away and his sons â and later grandsons â took over leadership. The series provides keen insights into how the Mongols' military tactics evolved, such as the innovation of using gunpowder and the use of a series of Mughal-era dynasties as ruling classes in India. The legacy of the Mongol Empire is seen as far-reaching, impacting not just the politics of their neighboring nations but the economy, religion, and social structure of those nations as well.

The documentary also considers the lasting impact of the Mongol Empire on culture, architecture, and the arts. The series explores the ways in which the Mongol Empire influenced the structures, costumes, and art forms of the people within their empire. It highlights the unique architecture of the Mongols' great capital, Karakoram, and the advancements made in astronomy, poetry, and music by the citizens within the empire.

The Mongol Empire provides a visual masterpiece for viewers, with stunning shots of sweeping landscapes, ancient battlegrounds, and traditional Mongolian costumes. The series is enriched with critical insights from leading historians and current residents of the region. The use of carefully selected visuals, animations and original music transport viewers back in time to experience the empireâs steep and often tumultuous trajectory.

Overall, The Mongol Empire on Amazon add-on is an expertly-crafted, informative, and highly compelling account of one of the most important empires in history. The rich narrative, global viewpoint, and expert commentary work together to create an immersive journey that will captivate and educate audiences of all ages. The documentary pays tribute to the Mongols as a people and to their diverse cultural significance to the world. It is an excellent resource for academics, buffs of historical sagas, and anyone interested in learning more about the history of the world.

The Mongol Empire is a series that ran for 1 seasons (24 episodes) between June 18, 2020 and on Amazon Addon

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Seasons

24. The Mongols and the Making of the Modern World

June 19, 2020

Assess the heritage of the Mongols from a variety of perspectives: as conquerors, unifiers, social and political revolutionaries, as promoters of religious tolerance, protectors of commerce, and even as facilitators of the spread of plague across Eurasia, but also as disseminators of crucial technologies that undoubtedly played a role in the making of the modern world.

23. From Mughals to Soviets: Eurasia after Timur

June 19, 2020

Track the fortunes of several of Timur's descendants, who attempted to govern the remnants of his vast empire. Among them was his grandson, Ulugh Beg, a matchless astronomer, scholar, and patron of civilization, but unfortunately an indifferent ruler. Also consider the history of Inner Eurasia over a period of more than six centuries, from the early 15th century to the end of the 20th century.

22. Samarkand: Timur's Cultural Capital

June 19, 2020

Take a break from conquests to explore Timur's fabled capital, Samarkand, located in present-day Uzbekistan. Already rich in history, the city was reborn under Timur, financed by booty and built by artisans captured during his campaigns. Investigate Timur's mausoleum and the effort of Soviet-era archaeologists to reconstruct his appearance, which some argue provoked an ancient curse.

21. Timur's Major Campaigns

June 19, 2020

Ride with Timur on his major expeditions that brought him infamy throughout Eurasia and made European monarchs shudder with fear. Cover two invasions of Persia and the destruction of Baghdad; an incursion into India and the sacking of Delhi; a military operation into Anatolia, where he defeated the army of Ottoman sultan, Bayezid I; and his final planned assault on the Ming dynasty in China.

20. Timur the Lame, a.k.a. Tamerlane

June 19, 2020

Launch into the career of the last of the great Mongol rulers, Timur, the reputed "Scourge of God" also known as Tamerlane from his lameness due to a war wound. War was the lifeblood of this minor Turco-Mongol noble, who rose to found the Timurid Empire. Cover his early exploits and his campaign against Toqtamish, khan of the Golden Horde. Also learn about Moscow's miraculous escape from Timur.

19. The Collapse of the Mongol Empires

June 19, 2020

Chart the disintegration of the Mongol Empire, observing its rapid collapse in the Persian Ilkhanate in 1335 and Yuan China in 1368. Also analyze the much more gradual break-up of the Chagatayid khanate and the Golden Horde, as the Mongols splintered into smaller, more autonomous units. Finally, focus on some of the long-lived successor states to the Mongols, such as the Ming dynasty in China.

18. The Pax Mongolica: Eurasia Reconnected

June 19, 2020

Follow a succession of travelers who gave Europeans their first glimpse of the extraordinary cultural diversity of Asia during a period of stability called Pax Mongolica. Marco Polo is the most famous of these medieval globetrotters. Evaluate the veracity of his account, and hear about lesser known merchants, envoys, missionaries, and adventurers who also made the arduous trip.

17. The Mongols in Russia: The Golden Horde

June 19, 2020

Travel to the Golden Horde, the farthest west of the khanates established after the death of Mongke Khan in the mid-13th century. Named by Russian chroniclers, the Golden Horde was a fertile arena for civil war and eventually played a pivotal role in the rise of Moscow and the Russian state. Hear about a notorious incident of germ warfare instigated by the Mongols involving bubonic plague.

16. The Mongols in Persia and the Middle East

June 19, 2020

Using the contemporary chronicle of Rashid al-Din as a guide, turn to the history of Mongol rule in Persia and the Middle East. An important element of the story is the clash of religions in a region that was becoming increasingly Muslim. A good example is the Mongol ruler of Persia, Oljeitu, who was raised as a Christian, converted to Buddhism, later to Sunni Islam, and then to Shi'a Islam.

15. The Mongols in Central Asia

June 19, 2020

After the Mongol Empire broke apart, descendants of Chinggis Khan's middle sons Chagatai and Ogedei ruled large parts of Central Asia. Investigate the internecine, familial strife that plagued this region, exacerbated by conflicts with the Mongol rulers of China, Persia, and Russia. Despite the political chaos, the economy functioned relatively well, with Silk Road commerce flourishing.

14. The Mongols in East and Southeast Asia

June 19, 2020

Driven by the Mongols' sacred mission to conquer the world, Qubilai Khan twice mounted invasions of Japan. Both times he was defeated with a generous assist from catastrophic typhoons. Termed kamikaze ("divine winds"), these storms were afterwards seen as heavenly protectors by the Japanese. Also, learn how Qubilai had mixed success subduing states in Southeast Asia.

13. The Mongols in China

June 19, 2020

Follow Qubilai Khan's conquest, unification, and leadership of China, which was the world's most technologically advanced state at the time. In order to overcome China's formidable defenses, Qubilai had to adopt new tactics, including ships and catapult heavy artillery. During Qubilai's reign as the first head of the Yuan dynasty, he hosted an exotic visitor from the West: Marco Polo.

12. The Strengths of Mongol Military Organization

June 19, 2020

Survey the armament, tactics, and organization of the Mongol military machine. Far from being a mob of fanatical mounted warriors, the Mongols were superbly trained and disciplined. Consider the close connection between their traditional hunting practices on the steppe and the skills needed to outsmart and defeat another army. Few fighting forces in history have been as consistently effective.

11. Dividing the Empire: A Tale of Four Brothers

June 19, 2020

Relive the exploits of four sons of Tolui, the youngest heir of Chinggis Khan. Among other adventures, Mongke Khan led the attack on China's Song dynasty in concert with his brother Qubilai, eventually to become the legendary Qubilai Khan. Meanwhile, Hulagu Khan engineered the brilliant siege of Baghdad, while the youngest brother, Ariq Boke, attempted to usurp the khanate, sparking a civil war.

10. Mongol Queens and the Contest for the Empire

June 19, 2020

Delve into the administration and politics of the Mongol Empire during the 10-year hiatus from expansion that followed the death of Ogedai in 1241. Learn about the Mongols' remarkably swift "pony express," and spotlight two influential queens, Toregene and Sorkaktani, who managed the empire and paved the way for their favored candidates for Great Khan: Guyuk and his successor, Mongke.

9. Ogedai Khan's Western Campaigns

June 19, 2020

Chinggis Khan's third son and successor, Ogedai, wasted no time striving to fulfill his father's dying order: "Life is short. I could not conquer all the world. You will have to do it!" The new khan took up unfinished business against the Jin dynasty in China and sent a force to subdue lands in Eastern Europe, defeating the cream of European knighthood. Discover what stopped his onslaught.

8. The Death of Chinggis Khan

April 22, 2021

Ever restless, Chinggis Khan withdrew from his western conquests to start a new campaign thousands of miles away in northwestern China. Learn about the hunting accident that reportedly led to his death in 1227, the mystery surrounding his burial place, and his chosen successor among his sons. Then weigh the legacy of Chinggis Khan. Was he a civilizing force or an agent of unparalleled disaster?

7. Chinggis Khan's Khwarazmian Campaign

June 19, 2020

Take off on the brutal campaign called by one historian a "masterpiece of Mongol warfare at all levels." This was Chinggis Khan's military operations in the early 1220s against Shah Muhammad, ruler of the Khwarazmian Empire, located in the regions of modern-day Iran and Central Asia.

6. Mongol Institutions under Chinggis Khan

June 19, 2020

Spotlight three innovations introduced by Chinggis Khan to unify and modernize the Mongol state: his reorganization of Mongol society; his taxation reforms; and his creation of a new law code, the Great Yasa, which included injunctions designed to protect horses, water, and wild animals. The code also specified seemingly minor breaches of decorum that were punishable by death.

5. Chinggis Khan's Early Conquests

June 19, 2020

Having consolidated his power over the Mongol tribes, Chinggis Khan had to decide what to do next with his unbeatable army, and how to prevent it from dissolving into division and chaos. Review the geopolitical situation in inner Eurasia at this time. Then follow Chinggis's forces on their first campaigns outside of Mongolia. Their number-one target: the Jin dynasty in China.

4. The Rise of Chinggis Khan

June 19, 2020

Drawing on The Secret History of the Mongols, written soon after Chinggis Khan's death in 1227, chart the rise of the obscure son of a minor Mongol chief to earn the title "Strong" or "Universal Ruler": Chinggis Khan. His martial daring and hairbreadth escapes have all the drama of a Hollywood epic. There is even a beautiful and formidable love interest, Borte, who Chinggis chose as his wife.

3. Nomadic Predecessors of the Mongols

June 19, 2020

In this episode, set the stage for the leader who founded the Mongol Empire in the early 13th century, Chinggis Khan (also spelled Genghis Khan). See how previous Mongolian-centered steppe empires established a template that was perfected by Chinggis. Trace these precursors to Turkic rulers in the 7th and 8th centuries, and to the Xiongnu steppe empire a thousand years earlier.

2. The Origins of Eurasian Steppe Nomadism

June 18, 2020

Use a "big history" perspective to understand the origin of militarized nomadism in the pastoral culture that developed on the grasslands of Eurasia beginning 7,000 years ago. Consider the paradox of nomadic empires that rarely build cities, yet still interact with the great civilizations on the periphery of the Eurasian steppe.

1. The Mongols' Place in World History

June 18, 2020

Starting with eyewitness accounts of the arrival of fierce Mongol armies at unsuspecting cities across Eurasia, Professor Benjamin launches his survey of the rise and decline of the Mongol Empire. After outlining the content of the series, he sketches the history of civilizations destined to be controlled by the Mongols, from China to Persia to Eastern Europe.

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Where to Watch The Mongol Empire

The Mongol Empire is available for streaming on the Amazon Addon website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch The Mongol Empire on demand at Apple TV Channels and Amazon Prime and Amazon.