The Mongols
“The Mongols made no technological breakthroughs,
founded no new religions, wrote few books or dramas”
Why are they historically significant?
To Compare…
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Imagine if… “the U.S., instead of being created by a
group of educated merchants and wealthy planters,
had been founded by one of its illiterate slaves, who,
by the sheer force of personality, charisma, and
determination, liberated America from foreign rule,
united the people,…invented a new system of
warfare, marched an army from Canada to Brazil,
and opened roads of commerce in a free-trade zone
that stretched across the continents.”
– Jack Weatherford in Genghis Khan
A Quick Background…
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Nomads
Genghis Khan chosen
leader
Need water
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Lead conquest looking for
rain water
Found the greatest
opportunity was trade →
horses
Who Are the Mongols?
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Declared themselves
descendants of Huns
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Called “Tartars”
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Founded 1st steppe
empire
Means “people from hell”
Mongols not originally
part of Tartars
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Killed many
Many rose to prominence
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Became synonymous with
Mongols
What were the key factors that allowed fewer than
125,000 nomadic warriors to build the largest empire in
world history?
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Military prowess
Adaptation of local societies/talents
Timing
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Fragmentation of postclassical states
Impact of the Mongols
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The Mongols created a single economic,
cultural, and sociological world system
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Mongol Exchange
New methods of warfare
Trade from Venice to Beijing and beyond
Cultural diffusion
Chronology of the Mongol Empire
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1206 – 1227
1211 – 1234
1219 – 1221
1237 – 1241
1258
1264 – 1279
Reign of Genghis Khan
Conquest of Northern China
Conquest of Persia
Conquest of Russia
Capture of Baghdad
Conquest of Southern China
Temujin: Leader of the Mongols
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Temujin (aka Genghis Khan)
Mastered the art of steppe diplomacy
which called for:
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Displays of personal courage in battle
Combined with intense loyalty to allies
A willingness to betray others to improve
one’s position
The ability to entice other tribes into
cooperative relationships
Was responsible for bringing together
all Mongol tribes into a single
confederation
Wise words from Genghis Khan
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“Man’s greatest joy is in victory: to
conquer one’s enemies, to pursue
them, to deprive them of their
possessions, to make their beloved
weep, to ride on their horses, and to
embrace their wives and
daughters…”
Strong Equestrians and Archers
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Mongols were oriented around
mobility
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Kept horses with them
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Traveled up to 62 miles/day
Elaborate priority mail system
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Drank their blood to stay alive
Messages traveled across Eurasia
Mongol archers were very
deadly and accurate
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Arrows could kill enemies at 200
meters (656 ft)
Mongol War Equipment
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Protective shield
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Armor
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Overlapping iron
Undergarments
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Lacquered leather
Silk
Wool
Weapons
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Battle axe
Scimitar
Lance
Re-curved
Psychological Warfare
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Fake retreats combined with horse archers
Slaughtered few cities
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Scared others to surrender without fight
Smarts > Bravery
Spared those who surrendered without
resistance
Resistance led to ruthless slaughter
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Used human shields
Put on the front line of their army
Genghis Khan
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In 25 years, subjugated
more land and people
than the Romans did in
400 years
Destroyed LOTS of ‘less
important cities’ to
funnel commerce into
routes that his army
could more easily
supervise and control
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Often along less
accessible trade routes
Genghis Khan Cont’d
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Valued individual merit & loyalty
Fighting wasn’t honorable, winning was
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Conscripted peasants
Refugees preceded Mongol attacks
LOVED negative PR
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Used any means necessary
Allowed and encouraged true and false stories
Fought on the move
Khan’s Innovations
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Perfected siege warfare
Used resources vs. supply train
Ensured support for fallen soldiers
Reorganized army
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Mix of tribal/ethnic people that lived and fought together
Transcended kinship, ethnicity, and religion
Religious tolerance
Postal system
Writing system
Abolished torture & insisted on rule of law
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Even he was accountable for these laws