The Horde's Islamic Conversion Under Khan Berke

How did the Golden Horde, founded by the shamanist Batu Khan, become a Muslim state? This episode traces the conversion of Khan Berke, grandson of Chinggis Khan, who embraced Islam decades before his famous successor Uzbek. We explore Berke's childhood exposure to Islam in Khwarezm, his political rivalry with his cousin Hulagu of the Ilkhanate, and his alliance with the Mamluk Sultanate that reshaped Central Asian geopolitics. The conversation covers the Battle of the Terek River in 1262, the role of Sufi mystics in the Horde's conversion, and the gradual Islamization of the Jochid ulus under Berke's rule. We also examine archaeological evidence from Sarai, the Horde's capital, showing the shift from shamanist to Islamic burial practices. A fascinating look at how a Mongol khan's faith changed the course of Eurasian history. #GoldenHorde #KhanBerke #Islam #MongolEmpire #JochidUlu #Sarai #Ilkhanate #MamlukSultanate #BattleOfTheTerekRiver #Sufism #Hulagu #BatuKhan #Conversion #CentralAsia #MedievalHistory #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo