The Ilkhanate's Tax Revolt Under Mahmud Ghazan

This episode of Fexingo History examines a pivotal but often overlooked turning point in the fragmentation of the Mongol Empire: the Ilkhanate's transition to Islam under Mahmud Ghazan in 1295. Hosts Lucas and Luna explore how Ghazan's conversion, driven by political necessity, reshaped Persian society and triggered a massive tax revolt. They discuss the role of the vizier Rashid al-Din, the elimination of Buddhist and Christian institutions, the controversial currency reform that replaced paper money with silver, and the brutal suppression of the revolt in Tabriz. Lucas explains how Ghazan's reforms, while stabilizing the Ilkhanate for a time, alienated Mongol traditionalists and deepened the rift with the Chagatai Khanate and the Yuan dynasty, accelerating the empire's disintegration. The episode draws on the writings of Rashid al-Din and archaeological evidence from Tabriz to illuminate this critical moment. It offers a fresh angle on the Mongol collapse by focusing on the intersection of religion, economics, and state-building in Persia. #Ilkhanate #MahmudGhazan #RashidalDin #Tabriz #MongolEmpire #TaxRevolt #Islam #Conversion #CurrencyReform #Silver #Buddhist #Christian #Persia #13thCentury #History #FexingoHistory #CentralAsia #MongolFragmentation Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo