The Mongol Empire was founded by Temujin, who took the name Genghis Khan, in 1206. Through conquest, the Mongols established control over a vast territory and caused cultures to intermix. They developed infrastructure like roads and a legal code that improved safety and travel. At its height, the Mongol Empire stretched from the Black Sea to the Pacific Ocean under Kublai Khan. Disease and war eventually weakened the empire, bringing an end to its long rule.