The Rise of the Mongols: Genghis Khan's Impact on History

The Rise of the Mongols

In the mid-twelfth century, the Mongols were just one of many peoples in the eastern grasslands, neither particularly numerous nor especially advanced. Then, Mongolians began to expand because the decline of annual average temperature caused a survival crisis. With the shrinking of pastures, Mongolians and other nomads had to look beyond the grasslands to obtain more food from the agricultural world.

Factors Behind Mongolia's Expansion

The second reason for Mongolia's sudden rise is the emergence of Genghis Khan. Genghis Khan and his successors were able to conquer Asia and Europe not only because of the Mongolian army's strong fighting ability and advanced weapons but also due to their army's fighting methods and skills.

Military Strategies and Innovations

The success of the Mongols in ruling vast territories was due in large part to their willingness to incorporate other ethnic groups into their armies and governments. Whatever their original country or religion, those who served the Mongols loyally were rewarded. The Mongols were also open to trying new military technologies. To attack, they employed Chinese catapults. At first, the Turks in Afghanistan were more powerful; they adopted the better model. The Mongols also used exploding arrows and gunpowder projectiles developed by the Chinese.

Exploiting Internal Divisions

The Mongols made good use of intelligence and tried to exploit internal divisions in the countries they attacked. Thus, in north China, they appealed to the Khitans, who had been defeated by the Jurchens a century earlier, to join them in attacking the Jurchens. In Syria, they exploited the resentment of Christians against their Muslim rulers.

Expansion Across Continents

Genghis Khan and his descendants used these methods to gradually expand to Europe, Poland in the west, India in the south, Japan in the east, Siberia in the north, Moscow in Russia in the northwest, Egypt in Africa in the southwest, Java in Indonesia in the southeast, Myanmar, and Vietnam in the south.

Adaptation and Governance

The Mongols adapted their methods of government to the existing traditions of each place they ruled, and the regions went their separate ways. In China, the Mongols resisted assimilation and purposely avoided many Chinese practices. In Central Asia, Persia, and Russia, the Mongols tended to merge with the Turkish groups already there and, like them, converted to Islam.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Genghis Khan launched the largest war in human history, created the largest country in the world, and was the most influential person in world history.