Final answer:
Women's influence during the Mongol conquests was substantial. Mongol women, especially those in Genghis Khan's family, affected the empire's expansion through marriages that created alliances, administrative roles in governance, and participation in important politico-dynastic decisions, including orchestrating coups.
Step-by-step explanation:
Women's Impact on the Mongol Conquests
The role of women in the Mongol conquests was significant and multifaceted. Genghis Khan's daughters played a crucial role in expanding the Mongol Empire through strategic marriages which created alliances, bolstering the empire's power and territory. Furthermore, Genghis Khan entrusted his sons-in-law with important conquest duties, and one of his daughters even ruled a region in Northern China in her own right. Apart from these external roles, women were also pivotal in directing the internal dynastic politics of the empire. A notable example was a woman who orchestrated a coup that led to the permanent division of the Mongolian empire, underlining the influence and power some Mongol women wielded within the empire's hierarchy.
The Yuan dynasty, which recognized China as its nominal capital, was an integral part of the Mongol domain. While the Mongols adopted various Chinese practices for governance, it was within this context that Mongol women were able to exert administrative and political influence, as they sometimes held positions of power while their husbands were involved in military campaigns or when they became widows with vested authority.
In summary, the contributions of Mongol women to the empire were considerable, with their impact felt both in the domestic sphere and in the broader geopolitical strategies that shaped the trajectory of Mongol rule.