Short Essay 1
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Uploaded by DeaconEchidna3920
Ava Raval
Professor Rabin
History 100
September 19, 2023
The Mighty Mongols
The Mongols began their expansion in the 13
th
century and were able to reshape the Afro-
Eurasia social landscape until their collapse in the 14
th
century. The Mongol Empire had many
successful rulers with the founder being Genghis Khan and all the following direct decedents of
his. My source is a historical account from ‘Ala-ad-Din ‘Ata-Malik Juvainis’,
Genghis Khan:
The History of the World Conqueror
in which Juvaini describes the Mongol military. He began
writing during his two visits to Mongolia, and continued when he entered the service of Mongol
Hülügü. He was able to travel through Persia and Iraq as the Mongols conquered more land and
became the provincial governor for the Mongols in 1258. The text depicts how the key to the
Mongol Empires’ success in expansion across Afro-Eurasia is due to their effective military
strategies and fearless leaders.
The Mongols expansion began in 1206 when tribes unified under one supreme ruler,
Genghis Khan. They began to conquer land south across the Great Wall of China and west
towards Afghanistan and Persia. Genghis Khans sons and grandsons were able to expand from
Pacific Ocean to Adriatic Sea creating a realm that covered all Afro-Eurasian cultural spheres
1
.
The Mongol warriors were preparing since birth because of a tradition that allowed both boys
and girls to participate in competitions of various sports
2
. The Mongol military consisted of
1
Adelman, Jeremy, Elizabeth Pollard, Robert L. Tignor, and Clifford Rosenburg. “The Mongol
Transformation of Afro-Eurasia.” Essay. In
Worlds Together, Worlds Apart: A History of the World from the
Beginnings of Humankind to the Present
Volume 2, 3rd Seguall Edition., 2:394–99. New York, NY: W.W.
Norton & Company, 2021.
2
Cartwright, Mark. "
Mongol Warfare
."
World History Encyclopedia
. Last modified October 10, 2019.
https://www.worldhistory.org/Mongol_Warfare/.
1
mainly men who “great and small, noble and base, in time of battle bec[ame] swordsmen,
archers, and lancers and advancing in whatever manner the occasion requires”
3
. Juvaini is able to
describe the military as strong warriors, no matter their size, and able to attack whenever
necessary. This displays how the Mongol Empire had an impressive military and it was effective
because they were able to conquer many territories. An important strategy the military had
adopted was “appointing one of the ten [warriors] to be the commander of the nine others; while
from among each ten commanders one was given the title of ‘commander of the hundred,’ all the
hundred having been placed under his command”
4
. This was a smart tactic because positions like
clerks and officials were terminated due to unnecessary inspections, and a tight chain of
command was created. The soldier’s obedience and submissiveness never faulted which allowed
the military to become successful in expansion.
Another reason for the Mongol Empires’ success in expansion was the Khans. Khans
were the supreme leaders of the entire empire and Genghis Khan started it all. He set the
standard and all of his decedents followed as powerful Khans. They were fearless and had no
tolerance for mistakes If a solider “commit some fault, the Khan dispatches a single horseman to
punish him after the manner prescribed; if his head has been demanded, he cuts it off”
5
. Due to
the leaders’ chain of command and lack of willingness to forgive the military was highly
organized and the soldiers were very loyal. Genghis Khan was not only a fearless leader but also
a military genius. He made use of the empire as it grew and knew to use the peasants to aid the
military. Every man had to provide his share of supplies like first-aid, banners, and animals and
3
Pollard, Elizabeth, Clifford D. Rosenberg, Robert L. Tignor, and Ala-ad-Din ’Ata-Malik Juvaini’. “Genghis
Khan: The History of the World Conqueror.” Essay. In
Worlds Together, Worlds Apart
2, 3rd ed., 2:33–36.
Companion Reader. New York, New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2019.
4
Juvaini,
Genghis Khan: The History of the World Conqueror,
35
5
Juvaini,
Genghis Khan: The History of the World Conqueror,
35
2
“On the day of review, they display their equipment, and if only a little be missing, those
responsible were severely punished”
6
. This proves how Genghis Khan was intelligent about
making use of what he had in his empire and how he used fear to keep peasants and soldiers in
check. His use of fear as a tactic to keep the military in control is another reason why the Mongol
Empire was able to succeed in expansion.
In conclusion, the Mongol Empire’s remarkable expansion and transformation of the
Afro-Eurasian social landscape during the 13
th
century up until its eventual collapse in the 14
th
century were fundamentally attributed to a combination of effective military strategies and
fearless leadership. The Mongol military contained formidable warriors which played a pivotal
role in the empire’s conquests. The presence of strong and fearless Khans, particularly Genghis
Khan, provided necessary direction for this military. His use of fear as a mechanism for control
was effective in establishing a legacy that left an indelible mark on history. The Mongol Empire’s
ascendancy and lasting impact were undeniably a result of this potent fusion of military might
and resolute leadership.
6
Juvaini,
Genghis Khan: The History of the World Conqueror,
34
3
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