Mongol Empire Dbq

The Mongol Empire was well known for their ability to conquer two continents within two centuries, but what isn't as well known was their ability to keep and govern the territory they had conquered.The leader of the Mongol Empire, Genghis Khan, was born in 1162 to a tribe leader. Genghis Khan faced multiple setbacks in his early life, including the death of his father and betrayal from allied tribes. However, Genghis was able to come back and conquer the Eastern and Mongolian Steppes, thus uniting the warring Mongol tribes. Now united as one, the Mongol tribes swept through Asia, conquering China, Russia and the Muslim World. Once conquered, the Mongols used their powerful governmental skills to retain control and create a larger, more successful

The Yasa was a set of laws created by Genghis Khan that covered a wide variety of topics, from military to religious ideals. These laws were used far after the time of Genghis Khan, and continued to shape Mongol life for centuries. One of the laws from the Yasa stated “A petty thief is punished by blows by rod: ten for each item” (Duhaime). This policy created a safe and peaceful environment throughout the Empire. The steep punishment for committing such a small crime frightened away all would-be criminals. The Mongols were already known for their ruthless military, and no one doubted their ability to dole out swift punishment. The Yasa forced the empire to become an exceptionally protected region where trade could prosper and the people could live freely. Another form of freedom the Yasa protected was religious freedom.This law in the Yasa declared that “all religions were to be treated with respect,” (Duhaime). The Mongol Empire spanned many countries and encompassed many religions, which could have created many barriers, but instead created a sense of unity. Religions such as Islam and Buddhism spread from country to country. Even though the Mongols were continuously at war with the Muslim World, they practiced Islam, so many people did not see the Mongols as a religious threat. The Yasa kept the Mongol Empire united and peaceful, which was

Genghis Khan redesigned the governmental structure of the Mongols when he came to power. He reformed the Tribe Leader position and tasked these individuals to represent the Mongols in conquered areas while the army moved on to take over other lands. The Tribe Leader’s only two jobs were to collect an annual fine for the Great Khan and to oversee the citizens for any rebellion, which was to be reported back immediately. This job allowed the Mongols to keep the land they had conquered with minimal men to rule it, resulting in a larger amount of land conquered. The Mongols could not have conquered such a large amount of territory in such a short amount of time without Tribe Leaders, as the army would have been delayed by domestic issues such as small uprisings. The region typically stabilized while the army were gone due to limited war and an influx of resources. Another important part of the governmental structure was job placement. Though the Empire was a meritocracy when it came to promotions in the military, the main way important jobs were given out was through elections. The Mongols would vote for their leader through quriltais. Quriltais were essentially “social feasts that double as political gatherings” where leaders of tribes could socialize and run for a job (Burgan). Though quriltais were around long before Genghis Khan became