Kublai Khan and the Battle of Herat 1270 Kublai Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan, was the founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China and a significant figure in Mongol history. In 1270, he directed military campaigns to expand Mongol influence in Persia and Central Asia, leading to the Battle of Herat. The city of Herat, located in present-day Afghanistan, was a crucial strategic point for controlling trade routes and asserting dominance over the region. During the battle, Kublai Khan's forces faced