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The Largest City Ever Destroyed
The forgotten city of Merv
Have you ever heard of the Medieval city of Merv? The answer is probably no. Merv was an ancient city that was home to humans for thousands of years. The bones of the once-great city are located in modern day Turkmenistan. At one point, Merv was the capital of the entire Islamic world. It grew in size and prosperity as a prominent stop along the Silk Road. The city was so large at one point that it was visible from a day’s walk out from the city.
It has been estimated that the city was the largest in the world during the 13th century, right before it was destroyed by the Mongols. That would be the equivalent of the city of Tokyo being wiped off the map and every inhabitant slaughtered. If that sounds wild, it is. But that is exactly what happened when an army led by Tolui Khan entered the city in 1221 CE.
The Razing of the World’s Largest City
In 1221, the city of Merv saw the Mongol armies approaching. At the time, Merv was home to an estimated 500,000 people, but the number could have been closer to 1,000,000. Merv was extraordinarily wealthy and had a strong Islamic heritage.
In a calculated move, the leaders of Merv decided to open the city gates and let the Mongols in without a fight. The city hoped that by not…
