Year 12 IB Extended Essays 2017

gjy664 – Chinggis Khan and the Mongol Empire

6

To deal with this historiographical problem, my research question is to what extent are the 13 th

Century primary sources an accurate depiction of Chinggis Khan’s influence in creating and

expanding the Mongol Empire? In answering this question, most historians refer to Chinggis’

skills in organisation, instigating fear and military power that enabled him to become the

preeminante leader of the Mongols and then expand the empire. As Jack Weatherford wrote, Chinggis “was a doer” with a visionary approach, enabling success. 9 However, historians have

grappled with different causal explanations given the myriad of factors at play in Europe,

Central Asia and China. Thus, the method used in this investigation includes a study of Mongol and European primary sources from the 13 th and 14 th centuries – the first being translations of

the Mongol primary source The Secret History of the Mongols and the second, a contemporary

account by John of Plano Carpini, who was formally reporting to Pope Innocent IV. Both

primary sources refer to Chinggis Khan’s role in the rise and expansion of the Mongol Empire,

although they give vastly different perspectives. After analysing these manuscripts, and

considering other secondary sources, I determined that the main cause of the Mongol expansion

was due to Chinggis Khan’s organisational skills, political acumen, military tactics and

expansionist policy.

1 – Organisation of the Mongol Empire

A key factor for the Mongol Empire’s success was its organisation, as Chinggis Khan

successfully organised large groups of people over a vast area, enabling rapid expansion. With

the recognition that the nomadic lifestyle was ineffective for success, Chinggis introduced measures, centred on organisation of the army. 10 Organisation played an important role in the unification and social transformation of Mongolia, which was a key aim of Chinggis Khan. 11

Under this organisation, there was a focus on maintaining tradition, developing an Imperial

Guard and establishing social hierarchy. Thus, the empire was organised by dividing the troops based on a decimal system, rigid discipline, centralisation and complete loyalty. 12

Consequently, the organisation of the Empire was critical to Mongol success in the

development and expansion of the empire.

Although a social hierarchy existed prior to Chinggis, he was able to exploit it to support his

expansionist strategy. According to the sources, the rigid class system could either enhance

9 Jack Weatherford, Genghis Khan and the making of the modern world (New York: Three Rivers Press, 2012) 10 Easton, Oxford Big Ideas , 423-455. 11 Jack Weatherford, Genghis Khan and the making of the modern world . 12 “ Genghis Khan Mongol Ruler ,” Charles R Bawden.