Most of the time when the cities did not surrender, the citizens of that city attacked the Mongols, and therefore they would fight back and would win because they were stronger.

The Mongols were animistic so they knew that they couldn't force their religion on other people which is why they practiced religious tolerance.

They used biological warfare by launching their dead infected warriors into other cities.

They used prisoners that they conquered from other cities as human shields and piled them up to get across a mote.

The Mongols created the best-organized military in the world and used better military tactics never seen before.

The Mongols patronized the arts and found artisans to be valuable citizens.

By connecting the East and the West, they began global history.

Kublai Khan restored the Confucian rituals in the court which involved music and dance rituals.

Kublai Khan set up institutions to rule China that was familiar to the Chinese by adopting traditional governmental institutions of China.

Kublai Khan initiated policies that helped and supported the Chinese economy as well as social and political life in China.