The mongols engaged in bloody raids of neighboring cities and towns because they needed to acquire food and resources during times of drought or poor weather.
The Mongol Empire existed during the 13th and 14th centuries and was the largest contiguous land empire in history stretchung from Eastern Europe and parts of Central Europe to the Sea of Japan, extending northwards into Siberia, eastwards and southwards into the Indian subcontinent, Indochina and the Iranian Plateau; and westwards as far as the Levant and the Carpathian Mountains.