Final answer:
After Genghis Khan's death in 1227, his empire was divided into separate territories called khanates, which included the Golden Horde, the Ilkhanate, the Chagatai Khanate, and the Yuan Dynasty, each ruled by his descendants.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the death of Genghis Khan in 1227, the vast Mongol Empire he had built was effectively divided into several separate territories known as khanates. These were mostly independent states, albeit with strong ties to each other through lineage and Mongol identity. The fragmentation of the empire was a result of internal conflicts and differing interests among Genghis Khan's descendants. This division solidified after the Toluid Civil War, leading to the establishment of four principal khanates: the Golden Horde in Russia, the Ilkhanate in Persia, the Chagatai Khanate in Central Asia, and the Yuan Dynasty in China.
Each khanate was governed by a descendant of Genghis Khan, ensuring that personal ties and a united Mongol culture endured despite political fragmentation. However, individual ambitions and economic interests would eventually drive the khanates further apart, leading to distinct and separate pathways in their historical development.