The kingdom of Pagan, finally destroyed by the Mongol and Chinese forces of the Yuan Dynasty in 1287, is to have a lasting impact on Burmese history and the history of mainland Southeast Asia.

The success and longevity of Pagan's dominance over the Irrawaddy valley had enabled the ascent of Burmese language and culture, and the spread of Burman ethnicity in Upper Burma and laid the foundation for their continued spread elsewhere in later centuries.

The two hundred and fifty-year rule has left a proven system of administrative and cultural norms that will be adopted and extended by successor kingdoms—not only by the Burmese-speaking Ava Kingdom but also by the Mon-speaking Hanthawaddy Kingdom and Shan-speaking Shan states.

The Shan leadership, as well as lowland Shan immigrants of the Myinsaing, Pinya, Sagaing and Ava Kingdoms, will come to adopt Burmese cultural norms, the Burmese language, and the Burman ethnicity.

The convergence of cultural norms around existing Pagan-centered norms, at least in the Irrawaddy valley core, will in turn facilitate he latter-day political reunification drives of the Toungoo and Konbaung dynasties.