ABSTRACT
During the lifetime of Chinggis Khan, Mongol expansion was largely targeted at stabilizing Mongolia as well as tying up loose ends. In addition to smaller polities, the Mongols would also encounter the Qara Khitai Empire, located largely in modern Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Tajikistan and Xinjiang, which had regular ties to Mongolia. The Mongol conquest of the Qara Khitai Empire occurred in 1218, although the events that led to the event as well as the conquest of western Siberia were set in motion by the Mongol victory over the Naiman tribe at the Battle of Chakirma’ut in 1204. While the Naiman and the Merkit fled Mongolia to avoid incorporation into the Yeke Monggol Ulus, their presence in western Siberia created a potential threat. However, Chinggis Khan did not permit them sufficient time to effectively establish a power base from which to threaten Mongolia.
