CIVILIZATIONS OF EASTERN ASIA
The Mongols were a group of people that arose around the first century AD and raged through Asia, conquering civilizations wherever they went. They began as a nomadic, pastoralist civilization, meaning that they herded livestock such as goats to survive. They were originally located in the steppes of Mongolia. They were excellent horse riders, giving them the edge in battle. The invention of the stirrup gave them more control over their mounts, furthering their riding prowess. The Mongols lived in small huts called yurts, which allowed them to keep their capital with them near the battlefield. This made it possible for quick retreats to safety, and made it hard for opposing military leaders to organize strategies to conquer the mongol city. Having supplies, hospitals, and sleeping quarters near the battlefield boosted soldier morale, as it was not necessary to walk long distances on campaigns. Additionally, the soldiers never became homesick. If the Mongols weren’t already formidable enough, they wore armor with a silk underlayer that prevented arrows from penetrating, successfully fending off infections.
However, the factor that lead to the success of the Mongol campaign, was their leadership and tactics. Around 1200 AD, a clan leader by the name of Temujin united the Mongols and became Genghis Khan, or universal ruler. He then set out on a campaign that would last 21 years, creating the largest territorial empire in history. Genghis used a variety of tactics to achieve his success. He organized the army based off the Chinese military, into armies of 10,000. These armies were divided into 1,000-man brigades, in turn divided into 100-man companies and 10-man squads. This organization helped to alleviate the confusion of mobilizing such a massive army. Genghis was also a brilliant strategist. For example, he would use a small unit of cavalry to draw out the enemy, hastily retreating and then surrounding the attackers with his much larger force. He also used scare tactics to take cities without a fight, his reputation as a cold blooded killer often leading to a town’s lack of resistance of occupation. The Mongols started with the Jin empire, but then swung west to confront the Muslims of Central Asia, because of the slaughter of many Mongol traders and ambassadors. Genghis died in 1227, but his predecessors continued his legacy, eventually ruling an empire the reached from China to Russia and down to Persia. This empire was then split into four khanates, the Khanate of the Great Khan (Mongolia and China), the Khanate of Chagatai (Central Asia), the Ilkhanate (Persia), and the Khanate of the Golden Horde (Russia). Each Khanate was ruled by a direct descendant of Genghis Khan. After they conquered their massive empire, the Mongols created laws to keep order and stability throughout the land. Traders, travelers and missionaries were given safe passage throughout the empire, increasing the amount of trade between Europe and China. Many new ideas and inventions were shared, advancing many civilizations at once. This period between mid-1200s to the mid-1300’s became known as the Pax Mogolica, or Mongol peace.
The decline of the Mongol Empire started when they began to adopt the culture of their conquered peoples. The people of that region were happy, however the Mongols themselves began to lose their individuality and culture that had held them together. They were no longer the nomadic pastoralists that had once roamed the Mongolian plains, and much of their skills were lost within several generations. The reputation as fierce horseman warriors had faded, and the Mongol Empire was easily overthrown.
