Mongol Empire Caravan Routes

Timeline

1. c. 1206–1260Mongolian Plateau · Mongolian PlateauFrom Genghis Khan to the early reign of Kublai Khan, the Mongol regime brought scattered oasis trade routes into the imperial transport system, standardizing tariffs and passage rules so caravans could travel fixed routes across the steppe and desert margins.
2. c. 1260–1350Samarkand · UzbekistanFrom Kublai Khan to Emperor Wenzong of Yuan, the relay and escort systems brought Eurasian caravan traffic to its peak; travelers such as Marco Polo traveled back and forth along these routes, and Samarkand, Otrar, and others became important relay hubs.
3. c. 1350–1400Northern shore of the Black Sea · Black SeaAfter conflicts among the Yuan dynasty and the four Mongol khanates and the rise of Timur's empire, route security deteriorated and tariffs became fragmented, caravan scale shrank, and some trade shifted to sea routes or local short-haul networks.