In 1226 they entered Russia, and after an heroic struggle the Russian
duchies and republics were forced into submission to the Tartar
yoke.[20] For nearly two centuries Russia became part, not of Europe,
but of Asia, and her civilization received an oriental tinge which it
has scarce yet outgrown.

The huge Tartar invasion penetrated even to Silesia in Eastern
Germany, where the Asiatics defeated a German army at Liegnitz (1241).
But so great was the invader's loss that they retreated, nor did their
leaders ever again seek to penetrate the "land of the iron-clad men."
The real "yellow peril" of Europe, her submersion under the flood of
Asia's millions, was perhaps possible at Liegnitz. It has never been
so since. In the construction of impenetrable armor the inventive
genius of the West had already begun to rise superior to the barbaric
fury of the East. The arts of civilization were soon to soar
immeasurably above mere numerical superiority.

In Asia the Tartar power probably reached its greatest height under
Kublai Khan, the Emperor of China whom Marco Polo visited.[21] And it
is worth our modern notice that Kublai failed in an attempt to conquer
Japan. Russia fell a victim to the Tartar hordes; Japan repelled
them.[22]


PROGRESS OF CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT

While Europe and Asia were thus in turmoil throughout most of this
era, England, secure in her island isolation, was making rapid
progress on the career of union and free government whereon John had
so unintentionally started her. The age thus adds to its other claims