<P> Genghis quickly came into conflict with the Jin dynasty of the Jurchens and the Western Xia of the Tanguts in northern China . He also had to deal with two other powers, Tibet and Khara Khitai . Towards the west he moved into Central Asia, devastating Transoxiana and eastern Persia, then raiding into Kievan Rus' (a predecessor state of Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine) and the Caucasus . </P> <P> Before his death, Genghis Khan divided his empire among his sons and immediate family, making the Mongol Empire the joint property of the entire imperial family who, along with the Mongol aristocracy, constituted the ruling class . </P> <P> Genghis Khan and the following Yuan emperors forbade Islamic practices like Halal butchering, forcing Muslims to comply with Mongol methods of butchering animals, and other restrictive decrees continued . Muslims had to slaughter sheep in secret . Genghis Khan directly called Muslims and Jews "slaves", and demanded that they follow the Mongol method of eating rather than the halal method . Circumcision was also forbidden . Jews were also affected, and forbidden by the Mongols to eat kosher . </P> <P> Among all the (subject) alien peoples only the Hui - hui say "we do not eat Mongol food". (Cinggis Qa'an replied:) "By the aid of heaven we have pacified you; you are our slaves . Yet you do not eat our food or drink . How can this be right?" He thereupon made them eat . "If you slaughter sheep, you will be considered guilty of a crime ." He issued a regulation to that effect...(In 1279 / 1280 under Qubilai) all the Muslims say: "if someone else slaughters (the animal) we do not eat". Because the poor people are upset by this, from now on, Musuluman (Muslim) Huihui and Zhuhu (Jewish) Huihui, no matter who kills (the animal) will eat (it) and must cease slaughtering sheep themselves, and cease the rite of circumcision . </P>

When did the silk road switch from land to sea