Year 12 IB Extended Essays 2017

gjy664 – Chinggis Khan and the Mongol Empire

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Chinggis’ successful policy. Hence, across the continent the Mongols gained the reputation for

their harsh invasion conditions.

Chinggis Khan’s emphasis on establishing fear, discipline and expansionst policies were a

critical factor to Mongol success. Popular history points to the ‘mindless’ butchery of

surrendering armies and innocent civilians as supported in Ystoria Mongalorum . However,

rather than being mindless it was psychological warfare because it instilled fear that would

undermine resistance in future battles. Thus, the Secret History and Ystoria Mongalorum

comment on fear and terror tactics through discipine. Consequently, this inidcates that

emphasis on fear, discipline and expansionist policies were critical as they broke the power of

opponents. Overall, the two sources are reasonably consistant for Khan’s expansionist policies,

however on how they were implemented there is a significant divergence in the evidence.

4 – Military Tactics and System of Adaption

From the early campaigns prior to the rise of Chinggis Khan and the Mongol Empire, there

was emphasis on establishing a strong army, through military mobility, a spy network, adapting

technologies, labour division and retaining tradition. Chinggis’ military tactics which relied

heavily upon populous support and adaption were key success factors, with the claim that “honour was not in the war methods, but in gaining victory.” 74 Whilst both the Secret History and Ystoria Mongalorum acknowledge comprehensive examples of military tactics, 75 Carpini did not view these as critical to Mongol success. Whilst Carpini was not definite on Mongol manpower, their power was reflected in Juvaini’s description of a nation in arms. 76

A key military tactic was the division of roles within the army, and willingness for adaption.

In many Mongol battles, despite soldiers being trained to fight on horseback, everyone was

given specific functions, maximising the skills of army members. As the Secret History accounts, 77 whilst some men would fight on horse, others were trained to carry messages or scout enemy. 78 However, despite labour division, steppe warfare relied heavily on archery, 79 with Ystoria Mongalorum highlighting the Mongol skill. 80 Thus, cavalry was a significant

74 “Review of Jack Weatherford,” Timothy May. 75 Carpini, History of the Mongols , 36.

76 Juvaini, Genghis Khan, 30. 77 Onon, Secret History , 6, 284. 78 Easton, Oxford Big Ideas , 423-455. 79 Jack Weatherford, Genghis Khan and the making of the modern world . 80 Carpini, History of the Mongols , 18.