Year 12 IB Extended Essays 2017

gjy664 – Chinggis Khan and the Mongol Empire

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was not only a military tactic but a permanent social structure, 26 with the claim that ‘war for the nomadic people was a sort of production.’ 27

Chinggis’ political acumen is demonstrated by how he selected the Imperial Guard and

subordinate commanders. Ostensibly, as described in the Secret History , Chinggis selected the traditional leaders and the most competent to perform these functions. 28 This historical view

tends to indicate that Chinggis Khan was fair minded and balanced in equally favouring all the

tribes. However, Ystoria Mongalorum offers contradictory evidence. Carpini suggests,

Chinggis selected the most “faithful” supporters to be his guards and important commanders

thereby making loyalty to the supreme leader more important than tribal allegiances.

Consequently, the Imperial Guard grew significantly, although membership was considered to

establish ‘ supreme honour’ , providing Chinggis with trustworthy people that could organise

and administer the Empire. In recognition of this honour, the Mongols developed a number of honorific titles as described in the Secret History. 29 However, this detail is absent in Ystoria

Mongalorum , although the distinction of power is referred to in relation to the Imperial Guard

and his appointment of the class structure and ‘nobles’ into position of power, indicating hierarchical structure was present 30 . Moreover, while the Secret History acknowledges the inclusion of subject rulers sons in the guard, Ystoria Mongalorum fails to mention this. 31 Nonetheless, these members became part of the Mongol Empire’s ruling class, enabling control and expansion of the empire through a strong, loyal class. 32

Consequently, organisation through emphasis on traditional, loyalty, disciple, social status, the

Imperial Guard and other organisation systems, played an important role in the empire’s

growth. Both the Secret History and Ystoria Mongalorum regard organisation as a key aspect

of Mongol tactics, indicating that Chinggis’ ability to organise people was a key factor to

Mongol success.

26 Jack Weatherford, Genghis Khan and the making of the modern world . 27 Sechin Jagchid, Essays in Mongol Studies (Utah: David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies, 1988)

28 Onon, Secret History , 210. 29 Onon, Secret History , 55.

30 Carpini, History of the Mongols , 33. 31 Carpini, History of the Mongols , 33. 32 Easton, Oxford Big Ideas , 423-455.