79 The Mongol Empire Trivia Questions with Answers
79 public questions with answers, drawn from the well. How many can you answer?
Mongol Empire trivia covers the rise of Genghis Khan, the empire’s military organization, its campaigns across Asia and Europe, and the cultures and religions connected by Mongol rule. Questions range from the Secret History of the Mongols and the formation of mingghans to the Khwarazmian campaign, the first clashes with the Rus’ principalities, and the empire’s later khanates.
This category is suited to medieval history enthusiasts, students, strategy fans, and experienced quiz players. It also includes figures such as Börte, the empire’s chief wife and first empress, Tibetan Buddhist and Nestorian Christian advisers, and travelers who carried knowledge between the Mongol world and Europe. Use it for a classroom activity, pub quiz, or challenging game night.
Who was the first Tibetan Buddhist imperial preceptor of the Yuan dynasty?
Answer
Drogön Chögyal Phagpa
Who was the Nestorian Christian monk who traveled from the Mongol Empire to Europe?
Answer
Rabban Bar Sauma
What is the 13th-century chronicle that records the Mongol Empire's early history from a Mongol viewpoint?
Answer
The Secret History of the Mongols
What was the name of the Mongol campaign that destroyed the Khwarazmian Empire?
Answer
Invasion of Khwarezmia
Which Mongol ruler established the Ilkhanate in Persia?
Answer
Hulagu
Which sea did the Mongol invasion fleet cross to attack Japan?
Answer
Sea of Japan
What type of bow was used by Mongol archers?
Answer
Composite bow
Which Ilkhan converted to Islam in 1295?
Answer
Ghazan
Which Japanese typhoons saved Japan from Mongol invasions?
Answer
Kamikaze
What script did Genghis Khan adopt for writing the Mongol language?
Answer
Uyghur script
What was the indigenous religion of the Mongols?
Answer
Tengrism
What term describes the peace and stability under the Mongol Empire?
Answer
Pax Mongolica
Which European traveler visited the court of Kublai Khan?
Answer
Marco Polo
Which Chinese dynasty was established by Kublai Khan?
Answer
Yuan dynasty
What was the name of Kublai Khan's summer capital?
Answer
Shangdu
Who was the mother of Kublai Khan?
Answer
Sorghaghtani Beki
Which Song fortress resisted Mongol sieges for over 30 years?
Answer
Diaoyucheng
Who was the last emperor of the Yuan dynasty?
Answer
Toghon Temür
What was the first capital of the Ilkhanate?
Answer
Maragheh
Who was the Yuan commander at the Battle of Yamen?
Answer
Zhang Hongfan
At which river did Genghis Khan defeat Jalal ad-Din in 1221?
Answer
Indus River
What was the title of the Mongol rulers in Persia?
Answer
Ilkhan
In what year did the Mongols first invade Japan?
Answer
1274
What was the name of the Mongol imperial guard?
Answer
Kheshig
What was the capital of the Chagatai Khanate?
Answer
Almaliq
Who served as regent after Ogedei's death?
Answer
Töregene Khatun
Who was the Mongol prince who invaded Tibet in 1240?
Answer
Köden
Who was the Mongol commander at the Battle of Ain Jalut?
Answer
Kitbuqa
Which Mongol khagan initiated the invasion of the Song dynasty?
Answer
Ogedei Khan
Who was the Mongol general who captured the Song capital Hangzhou?
Answer
Bayan of the Baarin
What was the name of the battle where the Mongols defeated the Hungarian army in 1241?
Answer
Battle of Mohi
Who ordered the construction of Karakorum?
Answer
Ogedei Khan
Which city did the Mongols besiege from 1268 to 1273?
Answer
Xiangyang
Who invented the Phagspa script?
Answer
Drogön Chögyal Phagpa
What was the name of the Mongol legal code?
Answer
Yassa
Who succeeded Genghis Khan as the Great Khan?
Answer
Ogedei Khan
Which naval battle ended the Song dynasty in 1279?
Answer
Battle of Yamen
The Mongol Empire trivia — quick answers
What are good Mongol Empire trivia questions?
Strong Mongol Empire trivia questions can examine Genghis Khan’s family, laws, generals, military units, conquests, religious policies, trade routes, and successor states. Questions about the Secret History of the Mongols, the four major khanates, the Khwarazmian campaign, Tibetan Buddhism, Christianity, and Mongol contacts with Europe offer useful variety across politics, warfare, culture, and geography.
How hard is Mongol Empire trivia?
Mongol Empire trivia is often medium to difficult because it combines unfamiliar names, changing titles, vast geography, and several political periods. Basic questions may focus on Genghis Khan and the empire’s expansion. Harder questions ask about specific rivers, chronicles, administrative units, religious officials, campaigns, and the divisions that followed the empire’s greatest territorial expansion.
Who was Börte?
Börte was the chief wife of Temüjin, later known as Genghis Khan, and the first empress of the Mongol Empire. She was a politically important partner whose family connections and counsel supported Temüjin’s rise. Börte and Genghis Khan had several children, including Jochi, Chagatai, Ögedei, and Tolui, who shaped the empire’s succession.
What was the Secret History of the Mongols?
The Secret History of the Mongols is a 13th-century chronicle describing the origins, family history, rise, and early rule of Genghis Khan. It is the earliest surviving major Mongol narrative written from a Mongol viewpoint. The work combines genealogy, legend, speeches, and historical episodes, making it a central source for studying the empire’s early development.
How many major khanates emerged after the Mongol Empire divided?
Four major khanates are commonly associated with the division of the Mongol Empire: the Golden Horde, the Chagatai Khanate, the Ilkhanate, and the Yuan dynasty. They were linked by dynastic traditions but developed separate governments and regional identities. Their borders, influence, and degree of independence changed over time, so the division was political rather than an instant collapse.