THE FOUR MONGOL KHANATES

"Khanate" is a Turkic origined word used to describe a political entity ruled by a Khan. "Khan" is an originally Central Asian title for a sovereign or military ruler. This political entity is typical for people from the Eurasian Steppe (Altaic-speaking tribes). The Mongol khanates is a subdivisions of Mongol empire. The Mongol empire was the second largest empire overall in world history (after British empire). The founder of Mongol empire was Genghis Khan. When Genghis Khan died he divided his empire into four sections (khanate) for each of his sons and grandsons. The four Khanates is a subdivisions of a single empire under the Great Khan. Kublai Khan (the grandson of Genghis Khan) was the last Great Khan. By the time of Kublai Khan's death, with no accepted Khan in existence, the Mongol Empire became divided into four separate khanates. The four separate khanates were : Golden Horde khanate, Chagatai khanate, Ilkhanate and Empire of the Great Khan (Yuan dynasty).

Golden Horde khanate (also called the Kipchak Khanate), is best known as that part of the Mongol Empire established in Russia. Capital of the Khanate of the Golden Horde was Sarai, located on the lower Volga. The city of Sarai was likely located on the Akhtuba channel of the lower Volga River in Astrakhan Oblast, Russia, about 120 km north from Astrakhan. The Golden Horde's territory included most of Eastern Europe from the Urals to the right banks of the Dnieper River, extending east deep into Siberia. The Golden Horde flourished from the mid-13th century to the end of the 14th century. By this time, the Golden Horde had become Islamicized under Khan Oz Beg (Uzbek). But, they were tolerant towards the Greek Orthodox religion of the Russians. The beginning of Golden Horde empire downfall can probably be dated to the outbreak of the Black Death in 1340. In the 1440s, Golden Horde khanate was broke up into several smaller Khanates, such as Qasim Khanate, Khanate of Kazan, Khanate of Astrakhan, Kazakh Khanate, Uzbek Khanate, and Khanate of Crimea. The Khanate of Crimea was the longest-lived of the successor states to the Golden Horde.

Chagatai khanate is the lands ruled by Chagatai Khan (second son of Genghis Khan) and his descendents and successors. The territory of Chagatai khanate was extended from the Ili River (today in eastern Kazakhstan) and Kashgaria (in the western Tarim Basin) to Transoxiana (modern Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan). Amu Darya was the important river in this khanate. This region was populated mostly by Turkish nomads, many of which had already converted to Islam. In 1300s, the Chagatai Khanate became an officially Muslim state. Although in 1360s, the western half of the Chagatai khanate was lost to Tamerlane, but this khanate lasted until the late 17th century. At that time, Chagatai khanate region in East Turkestan annexed by Manchu dynasty.

Ilkhanate territories is present-day Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, and western Pakistan. This khanate was found by Genghis's grandson, Hulagu Khan. Most people of Ilkhanate were Muslim. But, the Muslim majority were oppressed under the Buddhist emperors, who encouraged the flourishing of Tibetan Buddhism and Nestorianism. the Hulagu Khan also had allowed these Chinese and Central Asian guests to build numerous Buddhist monasteries and temples in Tabriz and other parts of northern Iran. In 1295, mahmud Ghazan converted to Islam. Then, Islam rose once again, and their Buddhist and Christian counterparts were severely harassed. In 1335, the khanate began to disintegrate rapidly, and split up into several rival successor states, most prominently the Jalayirids.

Yuan dynasty was found by Kublai Khan. The territory of Yuan dynasty is most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas. Kublai Khan had adopted many customs from earlier Chinese dynasties, such as era names and bureaucracy. The Yuan Dynasty was the only Khanate not to convert to Islam. The Mongolians' own religion, Buddhism as well as the traditional Chinese religion of Taoism simultaneously acquired their positions in the Yuan society. Unfortunelly, The last years of the Yuan Dynasty were marked by struggle, famine, and bitterness among the populace. In 1368, the Ming Dynasty displaced the Yuan Dynasty.