The Mongol Empire, also known as the Mongolian Empirewas the largest contiguous empire in world history and for some time was the most feared in Eurasia. It was the product of Mongol and Turkic unification and invasions, which began with Genghis Khan being proclaimed ruler in 1206, eventually sparking the conquests. By 1279, the Mongol Empire covered over 33,000,000 km² (12,741,000 sq mi), up to 22% of Earth's total land area. It held sway over a population of over 100 million people. However, by that time the empire had already fragmented, with the Golden Horde and the Chagatai Khanate being de facto independent and refusing to accept Kublai Khan as Khagan. By the time of Kublai Khan's death, with no accepted Khagan in existence, the Mongol Empire had already split up into four se...more >>parate khanates. During the beginning of the 14th century, most of the khanates of the Empire gradually broke off. They went on to be absorbed and defeated.