What if Ghenghis Khan had not died? How do you think history would be different if he had lived?
1 Answer
Speculating isn't something historians like to do, but history would be very different indeed.
Explanation:
Genghis Khan's legendary unification of the Mongolian tribes and subsequent conquest of the world is the stuff of legend. However, when he died, the Mongols had to turn back and return to Mongolia to settle the succession (i.e. make sure power transferred to his successor smoothly).
Had he not died, the Mongols would have no doubt continued into Europe. We have to remember that the Mongols were nomads, so their greatest need was grazing lands for their herds. Eastern Europe has much of that: flat, open lands with plenty of greenery. During his final years, Genghis Khan wasn't actually in Europe; he was finishing up some conquests in China. His generals Subotai and Jebe were the ones approaching Europe, but they had to return to Mongolia because of the Khan's death. If he lived, Subotai and Jebe would continue with their plan and attack Poland, then any other nation in the way.
Would the Mongols have gone further into Europe? This question has no easy answer. You could say yes, for the loot, or no, because the lands there are not as suitable for the Mongol herds. Fundamentally, though, the Mongols were conquerors. Their only occupation was war. There's no question that Mongol armies were superior to their European counterparts - the Mongols would have no problem taking Europe.
If the Mongols had finished their conquest of Europe, we wouldn't have much European history after that. Everything Britain, France, Spain, Germany, etc did after the 13th century would have never happened. But no empire lasts forever, and eventually even the Mongols would be overthrown. What would happen next is impossible to say, but it certainly would make good debate material.
