Society of the Mongol Empire to other civilizations, Mongolian women had the power to influence society. Even though men were dominant in society, many turned to women in their lives for advice. While developing organizations within the Mongol Empire, Genghis Khan asked for assistance from his mother. He honored the advice women in his life offered. Genghis Khan permitted his wives to sit with him and encouraged them to voice their opinions. Because of their help, Genghis was able to choose his successor. The Mongols considered marriage as the passage into adulthood. Before a marriage could proceed, the bride's family was required to offer "a
Mongol invasion of the Latin Empire death originated. In that event, he was likely forced to accept Mongol overlordship and to make annual tribute payments in return for release. By 1251 or 1252, Baldwin II certainly had diplomatic relations with the Mongol Empire, since he sent an ambassador, Baldwin of Hainaut, all the way to the imperial Mongol capital of Karakorum. In 1253, he gave William of Rubruck, a Franciscan missionary, letters of recommendation for Sartaq, the son of the Batu, khan of the Golden Horde. Batu was Qadan's superior in 1242 and his army had also invaded Bulgaria. Jean Richard suggests that Baldwin of Hainaut's