Genghis Khan's Leadership

Genghis Khan

Power was the main thing everyone wanted to have. Obtaining it was another problem. For example, leaders gained power through those who followed them and if no one did, they could not be a leader. They had to be able to succeed in hardships and be able to go through difficulty in order to gain likeness and power. Leaders such as Alexander the Great had to earn his power by showing his ability of making battle strategies that encouraged people to come and join him on his expeditions and conquests. Although some successful leaders are born into a high rank, the man who would eventually become Genghis Khan, Temujin, was born into poverty and misfortune. Temujin overcame his disadvantage to become a powerful and victorious warrior

His family was very large to support including his mother, three brother, two half brothers, one sister and an old women. Food was scarce for them they ate wild berries, birds and fish. Many passed away because others stole their food. Some of his brothers were captured and killed. This was a struggle to survive for Temujin’s family. One brother was shot by a bow for stealing food. This led to the collapse of Temujin’s family.

A few years later Temujin went back to the tribe his father died at and got married to Börte. She made him stay in the tribe. Returning to the tribe gave Temujin determination to be a chief just like his father. To do this, he needed to gain strength. Temujin went to his father’s close friend, Toghurl, who offered Temujin his aid. Toghul honored the new relationship between his tribe and Temujin by protecting them with an army lead by Jamuka, Temujin’s blood

Even though the Mongols were already different with battle strategies, they had different armor. Mongols wore woven silk undershirts, to protect them from arrow attacks. Moreover, silk provided no infection to a wound when shot by an arrow. This helped the Mongols survive from the attacks. On their chest Mongols wore leather tunics because it was light in weight and gave a somewhat defense from attacks from enemies. Mongols also wore headgear. The helmets were either made of iron or leather depending on if you were an arrowed rider or a warrior. The outside of the Mongol battle gear had one short-range bow, and two quivers containing sixty arrows and a