Mongols
The Mongols started as nomadic people, roaming the eastern steppe in small clans. Around the year 1200, a Mongol clan leader named Temujin sought to unify his people in one army. In 1206, he took the name Genghis Khan, meaning "universal ruler" of the Mongols. With that, he started on a 21-year campaign to conquer as much of Asia as he could.
Genghis's first target was China. However, soon after he successfully invaded the Jin Empire, Genghis looked towards the Islamic region west of Mongolia. Mongol traders had been murdered by Muslims, as well as an ambassador, which only served to stoke the heat of Genghis's anger. The Mongols wreaked havoc throughout Islamic land, destroying cities such as Utrar, Samarkand, and Bukhara, and brutally killing many of the inhabitants. By 1225, the Mongols had complete control of Central Asia.
Genghis Khan was a brilliant man who had a gift for warfare. His skills as an organizer aided his army immensely, grouping the units in particular orders that would aid them the most in battle. Also, he was an amazing strategist. He would sometimes trick the enemy into believing a small group of Mongols were the only ones attacking, and as the enemy chased the group, the entire Mongol army would sweep down upon the enemy's flanks like lions on a zebra herd. Third, he used cruelty against his enemies to inspire his forces and weaken the moral of the opposition. For instance, if a city refused to let him in, he would kill every single person in the entire city once he conquered it. News of his destruction would spread faster than his army, and many towns and villages started surrendering without a fight.
The Mongol army used stirrups while riding, which allowed them to shoot arrows and not fall off their horses. Underneath their armor, they all wore silk underwear. The silk clothing would stop arrows from piercing as deeply and allowed medics to remove the arrow quicker and cleaner than ever before.
In 1227, Genghis Khan died from a natural illness. His sons and grandsons continued to expand to empire, and in less than 50 years the Mongols had the largest unified land empire in all of history, stretching from Poland to China. His successors continued to expand, and just as they were about to seize Italy and Austria, they turned their attention towards Persia. By 1260, the Mongol empire was divided into four regions, or khanates. Only a descendant of Genghis Khan could rule a khanate.
From the mid-1200s to the mid-1300s, the Mongols halted their ferocious conquering. This period is sometimes colloquially called the Pax Mongolica, or Mongol Peace. Unfortunately, during their campaign, the Mongols had destroyed some native cultures forever, and the customs were lost. Other times, the Mongols actually strengthened and adopted the local customs, such as in two of the khanates where the rulers became Muslims. Also, the Mongols increased trade in this time period, allowing merchants safe passage from one side of the empire to the other. Ideas and inventions were spread throughout the civilized world, finding new followers and customers everywhere. It is also speculated that the bubonic plague started in Mongolia and spread out to Europe through trade. With the exception of that one case, everything that spread through trade was beneficial.
The adoption of local cultures lead to major cultural differences in the khanates, dividing the empire and eventually leading to the eventual splitting of the empire. The different khanates fell at different times, starting with the Ilkhanate (in Persia) and ending with the Golden Horde (in Russia).
Genghis's first target was China. However, soon after he successfully invaded the Jin Empire, Genghis looked towards the Islamic region west of Mongolia. Mongol traders had been murdered by Muslims, as well as an ambassador, which only served to stoke the heat of Genghis's anger. The Mongols wreaked havoc throughout Islamic land, destroying cities such as Utrar, Samarkand, and Bukhara, and brutally killing many of the inhabitants. By 1225, the Mongols had complete control of Central Asia.
Genghis Khan was a brilliant man who had a gift for warfare. His skills as an organizer aided his army immensely, grouping the units in particular orders that would aid them the most in battle. Also, he was an amazing strategist. He would sometimes trick the enemy into believing a small group of Mongols were the only ones attacking, and as the enemy chased the group, the entire Mongol army would sweep down upon the enemy's flanks like lions on a zebra herd. Third, he used cruelty against his enemies to inspire his forces and weaken the moral of the opposition. For instance, if a city refused to let him in, he would kill every single person in the entire city once he conquered it. News of his destruction would spread faster than his army, and many towns and villages started surrendering without a fight.
The Mongol army used stirrups while riding, which allowed them to shoot arrows and not fall off their horses. Underneath their armor, they all wore silk underwear. The silk clothing would stop arrows from piercing as deeply and allowed medics to remove the arrow quicker and cleaner than ever before.
In 1227, Genghis Khan died from a natural illness. His sons and grandsons continued to expand to empire, and in less than 50 years the Mongols had the largest unified land empire in all of history, stretching from Poland to China. His successors continued to expand, and just as they were about to seize Italy and Austria, they turned their attention towards Persia. By 1260, the Mongol empire was divided into four regions, or khanates. Only a descendant of Genghis Khan could rule a khanate.
From the mid-1200s to the mid-1300s, the Mongols halted their ferocious conquering. This period is sometimes colloquially called the Pax Mongolica, or Mongol Peace. Unfortunately, during their campaign, the Mongols had destroyed some native cultures forever, and the customs were lost. Other times, the Mongols actually strengthened and adopted the local customs, such as in two of the khanates where the rulers became Muslims. Also, the Mongols increased trade in this time period, allowing merchants safe passage from one side of the empire to the other. Ideas and inventions were spread throughout the civilized world, finding new followers and customers everywhere. It is also speculated that the bubonic plague started in Mongolia and spread out to Europe through trade. With the exception of that one case, everything that spread through trade was beneficial.
The adoption of local cultures lead to major cultural differences in the khanates, dividing the empire and eventually leading to the eventual splitting of the empire. The different khanates fell at different times, starting with the Ilkhanate (in Persia) and ending with the Golden Horde (in Russia).
Image credits: http://numbuh4gal.deviantart.com/art/Unless-you-are-the-Mongols-291448673
More info: http://www.photoglobe.info/ebooks/mongolia/cstudies_mongolia_0090.html
http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Country-Profiles/Countries-G-N/Mongolia/
More info: http://www.photoglobe.info/ebooks/mongolia/cstudies_mongolia_0090.html
http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Country-Profiles/Countries-G-N/Mongolia/