It included North and South America

It was very small compared to other empires.

It stretched across Europe and Asia.

HIt was never peaceful or stable.

Empress Wu

Genghis Khan 

Confucius

Marco Polo

Cow

Pig

Horse

Elephant

Trade along the Silk Road increased.

Islam's influence expanded into China.

The four khanates rejoined to form one empire.

Vietnam and Japan were annexed as part of China.

The Mongols raised travel taxes, decreasing trade.

The Mongols raided travelers all the time, decreasing trade.

The Mongols made travel tax-free, increasing trade.

The Mongols made it safer, increasing trade.

Nomadic Tribes

Settled Tribes

Farming Communities

Roman Empire

Rivers

Mountains

Plains

Steppes

China prospered

China withered

China experienced hardships, but endured

China lost all its influence to the Mongols who replaced Chinese culture

The trade routes made the roads safer for people to travel across the country by foot.

The trade routes made it possible for all ancient societies to do well economically.

The trade routes made it harder for the countries far away from the trade routes to learn about those on the trade routes.

The trade routes made it easier to transfer cultural practices and religious ideas.

To spread fear, thus making them more likely to surrender without a fight

To make them fight for their lives

To make other people talk about them, and write about them in books

They were once terrorized, so they want to do it to others.