In 1200 CE, the Mongols lived on the grasslands of Central Asia in small, pastoral-nomadic clans. These clans were led by a chieftain and often fought with each other over disputes about honor, their animals, and rights to grazing and hunting territory. To the south of Mongolia, China’ brilliant Song dynasty was prospering, and to its west, the Islamic caliphates and sultanates were renowned centers of culture and learning. In 1206, a Mongol who became known as Genghis Khan united the clans and began a decades long process of conquest. By 1294 the Mongol empire became the largest ever contiguous land empire in world history. 1. If you were Genghis Khan, what strategies would you use to unite the Mongol clans and ensure their unity and loyalty to you?