15. Conclusion
Khubilai had many successes to his honor. He sought to rule, and not only to exploit, the largest and most populated kingdom in the history of the world at this time. With a vision, unique for a man with nomadic heritage, he strived to protect the welfare and favor the different interests that his subjects had. This during a period in time when such consideration was rare indeed. Through his political and economical measures, through his support and patronage of culture and trade and through his tolerance to different religions, he tried to unite the countries in Asia under Mongolian supremacy.Just as many other great rulers empires, Khubilai’s kingdom did not survive for long after his death. Even under his own lifetime were its weaknesses obvious. Khubilai’s disastrous foreign expeditions, his unreasonable financial demands and his own personal decline, undermined his great vision. His Mongolian predecessors, including his grandfather Chingis Khan, never shared Khubilai’s dream to unite and rule over the known world. Neither did his successors tried to implement this vision. Khubilai’s dream for a world power was never fulfilled, but his fame still lives on.
With Khubilai Khan the history of the Mongolians had seen its largest successes, the glimmering stability and the beginning of a collapse. But under the period of Khubilai Khans lifetime he stood out as a magnificent representative of the ambitions of two generations. From the eastern coasts of the Baltic Sea to the North Vietnamese bay, kings, princes and governors acknowledged Khubilai Khan’s power of leadership and were also acknowledged by the family and origin from where he originated. From Vietnam to Korea he brought unity and peace to the countries that he personally ruled over.
Throughout the entire Eurasian landmass his name was spoken with deep respect, his assets were described with reverence and jealousy. He was the greatest monarch of his era. When he died he rose, just like his grandfather, as a giant into the legends of the world history. But when we look back on Chingis Khan through a mist of blood, it is a glitter of gold that surrounds Khubilai Khan. The thread of the Mongolian Empire’s fate stretches between them and when Khubilai died the thread snapped in two.
This report has been very fun to work with, it also became a lot more than I had planned for. It has been a lot of reading to do and I also learned much of this era. In my opinion Khubilai Khan was indeed one of the great rulers of the world, I am sure it was not easy to live during this period, but during the reign of Khubilai an enormous exchange of merchandise and knowledge took place. I also think that it is extraordinary with the safety a carrier of the paiza enjoyed, even if there surely were exceptions. I do not believe that anything like it has existed since then. I hope that you have had as much pleasure of reading this as I have had the pleasure of putting it together!