West To East

The West-to-East timeline is an alternate history branching from around 1200 CE, wherein a powerful, united Mongol-Chinese empire emerged in Asia, embarking on a conquest westward across Eurasia. This empire, a fusion of Mongol military might and Chinese civilization, ushered in an unprecedented exchange of culture, goods, and ideas across the vast Eurasian landmass, creating a future dramatically different from our own.

Rise of the Mongol-Chinese Empire

Under the leadership of a brilliant and charismatic leader, the Mongolian tribes united with the Chinese civilization in a monumental political marriage. Their combined military power was unmatched, conquering the vast territories that spanned across the present-day Taiwan, [Kazakh], [Russian Federation|Russian, and European lands. The empire was driven by an ideology of fusion and expansion, bringing stability, structure, and innovation to the conquered peoples.

Eurasian Trade and Expansion

Under the banner of the Mongol-Chinese empire, a new silk road, focused on eastern cities such as Beijing and Suzhou, arose, reshaping the economic landscape of Eurasia. The empire secured and centralized global trade, connecting east to west and drawing western traders to the vibrant markets and bustling ports of the east. A new era of Eurasian integration began, facilitating the exchange of goods, technology, and ideas between the historically distant empires.

Gunpowder Revolutionizes Western Warfare

One of the most significant aspects of the cultural exchange was the sharing of advanced weaponry with the west. Introducing gunpowder and its various applications completely revolutionized western warfare by drastically increasing the destructive power of individual soldiers and opening up new avenues for tactical thinking and strategy. Cannons, muskets, and explosive arrows became integral components of western military doctrine, ushering in a new era of warfare that forever changed the landscape of power dynamics.

The Urban Landscape Changes

As the Mongol-Chinese empire expanded its reach, they brought more than just military and economic prowess to the conquered lands; their architectural visions and building techniques began to dramatically transform western architecture. Eastern building methods, materials, and design principles quickly caught on, leaving a distinct imprint on urban landscapes and landscapes across Europe and the Americas. Towering pagodas replaced cathedrals and traditional western buildings took on an eastern aesthetic character. The western urban landscape was forever changed.

Material Culture Evolves

Understandably, with the eastward expansion of the empire, Chinese goods and materials quickly gained popularity in the west. Luxuries such as silk, porcelain, and exotic spices soon became staples of western consumer culture. The aesthetic tastes of western nobility and merchant classes dramatically shifted, as they adopted an eastern manner of dress, furnishing, and entertainment. This shift rippled through all levels of society, yielding more and more integration between the east and west, both culturally and economically.