Final answer:
The Mongols failed to make significant inroads in South Asia mainly due to geographical barriers and strong resistance from local forces. Greater adaptation to local conditions and improved naval capabilities might have helped their cause.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reasons for the Mongol's Failure in South Asia
The Mongols faced several challenges in their attempts to make inroads into South Asia. One significant factor was geographical barriers. The long and complex river systems, as well as the mountainous terrain in parts of South Asia, posed serious obstacles to the mobility and supply lines of the Mongol forces, which were traditionally strong in cavalry and siege warfare but less adept at naval operations and combat in such diverse landscapes. Additionally, the Mongol military faced robust resistance from the South Asian forces, including the Delhi Sultanate, which effectively weathered the attempted invasions.
To have achieved greater success, the Mongols might have benefited from adopting more suitable battlefield tactics and technologies for the geographies they encountered, establishing stronger local alliances, and perhaps even learning from the naval skills of their enemies. The resilience of local empires and the failure to adapt to the unique environmental and cultural challenges ultimately led to the Mongol Empire's limited expansion in South Asia.