hesis Statement
Although cruel, the Mongol Empire increased China’s exchange of ideas, social life and ability of goods to travel throughout their vast empire in return making them a wealthy empire.
Annotated Bibliography
John Andrew Boyle, tr., The Successors of Genghis Khan (NY; London: Columbia University
Pr., 1971). A translation of selections from Rashid al-Din's world history, whose focus is the
Mongols. Print. Primary.
Rashīd al-Dīn Ṭabīb was a Jewish Physician who lived in the southwestern sector of the
Mongol Empire. He wrote many books during that era and documented story’s as well as historical events that occurred during that time. Rashīd’s master pieces are considered key document on the Ilkhanids who lived around the13th and 14th
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This book has information that is vital for my thesis because it provides translated documents which include information about military advances, daily political life and trade of that era. The book includes accounts on how the Mongol’s emphasized on trade and provides a solid understanding on how it changed life for the citizens of the Ilkhanids. It also talks about different religions during that time which reinforces my thesis about the exchange of ideas and
2 goods. Craughwell, Thomas J. The rise and fall of the second largest empire in history: how Genghis
Khans Mongols almost conquered the world. Fair Winds Press, 2010. Print.
Thomas J. Craughwell is a well-known modern author he studied medieval English literature and one of his books even got featured in the History Channel. His book mostly resolves about the life of Chinggis Khan otherwise known as Genghis Khan. It explains how
Chinggis Khan managed to bring together multiple tribes and consolidate that pastoral-nomadic group to form the Mongol Empire. It also lists some of the battles partaken and how the Empire was successful in expanding. Craughwell’s book helps support my thesis statement providing solid information about policies the Mongols partook in that allowed cultural exchange
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This book helps support my thesis because it included information on how Genghis
Khan’s rule rooted out evil like adultery, murdering, war and thieves. This resulted in a safer environment for commerce.
Pian de Carpine, John, and William Woodville Rockhill. The journey of William of Rubruck to the eastern parts of the world. Ashgate, 2010. Primary. Print.
John of Plano Carpini was a monk who was sent as an envoy of the Pope to the Mongol
Empire and is believed to be one of the first persons to visit it. The book itself is based on his journey and what he saw upon visiting the Mongols these documented accounts where translated from Latin to English by W.W. Rockhill. The book goes on to include how John managed to travel through the country for three weeks and the hospitality of the Mongols whom they knew as the Tartars. The first-hand experiences of John support my thesis with his recollection of
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Mongolian military might and how they kept artisans and allowed then to live thus enriching the
Mongolian social life.
Morris Rossabi. “The Mongol’s Mark on Global History.” The Mongols in World History | Asia
Topics in World History, Asia for Educators Program at Columbia University, 2014,
...trospectively. The menacing creature that is Genghis Kahn went overboard to gain as much power as he did. His strategies didn’t allow failure. Unfortunately, his success was from a sociopathic standpoint. Every win by Khan, was a loss for all others. (doc D and doc F) The law codes composed by Kahn were ridiculously unjust and ignited insolence in all men. (doc K and doc N) The yam system was the only completely harmless innovation/method created by Kahn. (doc L) Meanwhile, millions of people were still systematically murdered by Genghis and his stupendous army. (doc E and doc I) All but monotheistic religions were practically snubbed. (doc H, doc G, and doc M). The Mongols will always remain the “barbarians,” for if a society were to emerge that, by some supernatural force, exceeds the brazenness of the Mongol Empire, it would be the end of the world as we know it.
Rossabi, Morris. "Life in China Under Mongol Rule: Religion." The Mongols in World History | Asia
The Mongol empire was the largest land empire the world has ever seen. First began as a nomadic group of tribes. Mongols were united and emerged into an empire that conquered lands stretching from Europe to Central Asia under the rule of Genghis Khan. The Mongol empire was able to succeed in expanding, and conquering was due to their ability to adapt to any living conditions, their sheer brutality force, and their strong military organization. To begin, one factor that supported the Mongols in their conquests was their capacity for foraging, allowing them to survive under harsh living conditions.
The most important constituent to the Mongols success was ‘a ruthless use of two psychological weapons, loyalty and fear’ (Gascoigne 2010). Ghengis Khan, the Mongol leader from 1206-1227, was merciless and made a guileful contrast in his treatment of nomadic kinsfolk and settled people of cities. For instance, a warrior of a rival tribe who bravely fights against Ghengis Khan and loses will be r...
When the word “Mongol” is said I automatically think negative thoughts about uncultured, barbaric people who are horribly cruel and violent. That is only because I have only heard the word used to describe such a person. I have never really registered any initial information I have been taught about the subject pass the point of needing and having to know it. I felt quite incompetent on the subject and once I was given an assignment on the book, Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern Age, I was very perplexed for two reasons. One I have to read an outside book for a class that already requires a substantial amount of time reading the text, and secondly I have to write a research paper in History. I got over it and read the book, which surprisingly enough interested me a great deal and allow me to see the Moguls for more than just a barbaric group of Neanderthals, but rather a group of purpose driven warriors with a common goal of unity and progression. Jack Weatherford’s work has given me insight on and swayed my opinion of the Mongols.
The Mongols were nomadic people that lived in tribes in Asia during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The joining of numerous tribes would eventually form one of the biggest empires in history. With the lack of rain though the region, the Mongols did not have wide spread agriculture, instead they would herd sheep, cattle, goats, horses, and camels that thrived on the grasses and shrubs of the steppe lands where they lived. The Mongol tribes would travel with their herds to lands with copious amounts of grasses so their animals could graze. When their herds exhausted the vegetation, they would migrate to a new area. The tribes were self-sufficient, they not only lived off the meat, milk, and hides provided by their animals, but also used them for trade purposes.
The military exploits of the Mongols under Ghengis Khan as well as other leaders and the ruthless brutality that characterized the Mongol conquests have survived in legend. The impact of the invasions can be traced through history from the different policies set forth to the contributions the Mongols gave the world. The idea of the ruthless barbarian’s intent upon world domination will always be a way to signify the Mongols. Living steadfast upon the barren steppe they rode out of Mongolia to pursue a better life for their people.
The Mongol Empire was a very powerful which conquered more land in two years than the Romans did in 400 years. Also, they controlled more than eleven million square miles. The Mongols were very important because they created nations like Russia and Korea, smashed the feudal system and created international law, and created the first free trade zone. In the beginning of the Mongol Empire, they mostly lived in foothills bordering the Siberian forests mixing heroing and hunting. They also became really good at archery and riding horses. The main reason the Mongols came to be so powerful was all because of a man named Genghis Kahn. Genghis was born around 1162 with the name Temujin. Due to the death of his father, Temujin was left under the control of his older brothers. Soon enough, he was married to a woman named Borte. Borte was later kidnapped, in which Temujin proved his military skills when saving her. Not to long after this, Temujin became the leader of his tribe. Yet, to unite the Mongol confederations it required a civil war, which Temijun ended up winning. After proving his skills and loyalty, Temijun was declared the Gr...
The Mongols a small tribe based on the grasslands, which achieved what dozens of empires only dreamed of doing in a short time period from (1162-1227) as stated in (Document A) conquering a little more than four million eight hundred and sixty thousand square miles. The mentioned achievements did not occur from day to night they happened through an extension of time and in the course of that is where
... were positive, one may argue that these individuals only saw the tolerant and fair-minded side of the Mongols, and not the relentless warrior part of the society who was known for its “dirty” tactics of war, which went as far as launching diseased-ridden corpses over the walls of castles during sieges. Alternatively, one may argue that the scholars who provided negative documentation of the Mongols only saw the destructive side, not the open-minded side of the society who were known for their cultural acceptance. Although these accounts allowed for an adequate idea of the nature of the Mongols, a record from a peasant who was not a member of the upper class in their society, as all reports presented were from historians, scholars, and political leaders. This would allow for a different perspective on the issue and would produce a better understanding of the topic.
The Mongols believed a conquered city should be able to be plowed upon; and that not even cats and dogs should be left alive (DOC E). Once the Mongols conquered new land, with the exception of those they wished to have as slaves or artisans who could contribute to society, they murdered with an axe (DOC D). Their killing was so severe, sometimes, the Mongols ended up killing whole cities, most histories estimate the number they killed to be in the millions (Green). By being this ruthless, the societies around the Mongols would hear of the Mongols treatment of prisons and often surrendered the second the Mongols arrived, just to escape slaughter (Green). Being ruthless also meant the Mongol army had nothing stopping them from doing exactly what they wanted because they didn’t care at all about sacrificing enemy casualties and huge groups of people dying.
The Mongols were a tough, strong, and a fierce Asian group of people. Their reign
Even though the Mongolian Empire did have some form of being civilized through their public works, the fact that they had harsh, strict laws and gruesome military tactics make them truly barbaric. It may seem as though the Mongolian Empire was advanced when looking at their public works, but since their citizens lived in fear, the Mongols did not develop to their fullest extent. In addition, their ruthless military tactics and severe laws suggest that they had no sense of mercy for others. As a result, the Mongols deserve to be referred to as barbaric. Still, it is important to recognize both sides of the story so that the Mongols are given the credit they deserve.
Kahn, P. (2005). Secret History of the Mongols: The Origin of Chingis Khan. USA: Cheng & Tsui
Weatherford, J. McIver. Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World. New York: Crown, 2004. Print.