The Mongol empire was one of the largest, most prominent land-based empires throughout history. Its establishment on the steppes of Mongolia and vast expansion can be ascribed to the shrewd, authoritarian rulings of its founder, Genghis Khan. He believed that ‘heaven had given the world to the Mongols and that their task was to do everything possible to turn divine will into reality’ (Man 2014, pg.4). This principle influenced Genghis Khan to use his character, vision, beliefs, ideologies and his talent as a leader to create a successful empire that embodied implacability, infallibility and irresistiblity. The latter resulted in Genghis Khan’s descendants “inheriting” the vision of world conquest from him and implementing it in their endeavours …show more content…
His tolerance towards the beliefs of others and their religious backgrounds meant that advancement through the ranks of the military was based on merit alone. This ‘system of advancement created a sense of personal responsibility and made all of his soldiers extremely content and very faithful to him’ (The Mongols in World History 2004). The nomadic roots of Genghis Khan and his warriors gave them similar values of prosperity, which was achieved through common laws and trade. Genghis Khan created common laws called the “Yasa” under an individual could practice traditions and values specific to their religion and way of life prior to invasion as long as they paid taxes. This created a natural desire between individuals in the empire to expand their knowledge in areas such as religion, medicine and technology, which led to trade. The Yasa also ‘prohibited travellers being harmed during their journeys to trading posts in Mongol ruler territories which encouraged Venetian merchants to journey along what came to be known as the Silk Road’ (Zelenyj 2006, p.7). Lastly, the state of the countries that the Mongols invaded is important to consider, as a force is rarely irresistible only because of its own strengths but also because of the type of thing it is acting upon. For example, the Holy Roman Empire which dominated most of Central Europe, was engaged in a feud with the Pope …show more content…
Viewed 2nd September 2016.
Invictus, 2006, ‘The Rise of Genghis Khan’, Steppes and Central Asia: 1200 AD, January, All Empires – Online History Community, viewed 27th August 2016,
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...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
Weatherford, J. McIver. Genghis Khan and the making of the modern world. New York: Crown, 2004.
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.
Before Genghis Khan, the Mongols had been semi-barbaric and primitive nomadic tribes, becoming literate just a few years before the early 1200s. Kublai Khan was not only the grandson of Genghis Khan, founder of the Mongol Empire, he was also the fifth Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, and the founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China. The thesis of “Khubilai Khan His Life and Times” written by Morris Rossabi, is a biography that showed the significance of Khan’s life drawn on sources from a variety of countries, it goes into a detailed collection of his conquests and defeats. It is organized chronologically and topically in order to cover Khan’s exploits as a Mongol leader.
The Mongols were an influential group of people. They’re rule reached the far reaches of the globe even reaching places in Europe. The Mongol impact is clearly seen in the Persian and Chinese societies. Although it was the Mongols who took over both these societies, they still differed in many aspects.
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.
According to one of the prosecuting attorneys, Genghis Khan killed an approximate “40 million people, about 10% of the world 's population at the time” during his reign over the Mongol Empire. As staggering as those numbers appear, there is substantial justification that is submitted by Genghis Khan himself, as well as the many other witnesses that defend and corroborate his account. Additionally, the amount of evidence presented by the defense is unparalleled to that of the prosecuting attorneys. The most convincing, compelling, and informative testimonies were delivered by Genghis Khan, the Mongol Government Official, the Merchant, and the Prince of Moscow. In contrast, there were a few notable testimonies from the witnesses that opposed Genghis Khan; those of Pope Innocent IV and Caliph of Baghdad. The others merely introduced minor arguments, repeated information, or unsubstantiated, inaccurate information that
Once cultures were incorporated into the Mongolian empire, they could open trade safer than before. With the Mongols incorporating so many empires into their empire, cultures mixed greatly. This was amazingly impactful towards cultural advancements. With the combining of ideas, all the values and beliefs mixed, creating a much more “rounded” community. Had it not been for the Mongols, this may never have happened and this is one of the many reasons that the Mongols were an integral part of cultural development and their importance truly shines With Michael Adas’ representation, we hear him talking about what they did, the benefits and the disadvantages.
The Mongol invasions were a very bloody and interesting time., While the Turks were in a constant state combat with each other, the Mongols first arrived in the Middle East in the early thirteenth century. (Mckay. 245) They were a very conquest driven and combat focused people, on par with the Turks in regards to combat prowess. The individual known as Chinggis Khan would bring about a change that no one would anticipate. In this discussion, will be the explanation of Chinggis Khan and his expansion of the control his empire with his successors.
... 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.
This was professed as a dangerous disrespect to the Great Khan and the succeeding Mongol retaliation totally worn-out Central Asia and terminated its Golden Age. Combined with the ensuing institution of European sea routes that circumvented the Silk Road, the Mongol incursions suggested the disaster of Central Asia as a significant region. "The regions inhabited by settled agriculturalists adjacent to the steppe were incorporated more slowly and to a lesser degree than the steppe. For example, the Russian principalities of the forest zone were not occupied by the steppe-dwellers, and were instead subjected to tribute. As a result, the Mongol Empire, based on the steppe, was much wider in the latitudinal rather than longitudinal direction." (Turchin et. al, 2006) Though there were only almost 2 million Mongols in the world, they consequently conquered most of Russia, Middle East, and China. Throughout their glory days, they suffered few difficulties excluding their disastrous incursion of Japan and the Battle of Ain Jalut in 1260 C.E. against the Egyptian Mamluks. Notwithstanding their little population, the Mongols fielded huge militaries against their opponents because they brought their herds and sustained themselves through horse blood. "The Mongols fought in the manner of total war. The only result that mattered was
The Mongols were a tough, strong, and a fierce Asian group of people. Their reign
This story can be summarized by dividing the story into three major sections that represent a genealogy of the Genghis Khan ancestors, the lifestyle of Genghis Khan and the story of Genghis son and Ogodei his successor. This piece of early time’s literature was translated and edited by Jack Weatherford and it was not released until 16th February, 2010. The piece of work restores early history’s most prominent figures to the positions they rightfully deserves. It clears the picture of the nomadic lifestyle of the Mongols and it is rich with information regarding the society of the Mongols in the 12th and the 13th centuries” (Kahn, 2005).
Weatherford, J. McIver. Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World. New York: Crown, 2004. Print.