Mongol Hordes Gave up on Conquering Europe Due to Wet Weather

New Scientist ^ | 26 May 2016 | Conor Gearin

[nickcarraway]

It has mystified historians ever since. After a string of major victories, the Mongol army suddenly retreated from central Europe in 1242.

Some scholars claim Mongolian politics forced the withdrawal, while others credit the strength of fortified towns in present-day Hungary and Croatia. But Europe could have been rescued by its own bad weather, an analysis of tree rings and historical documents concludes.

The Mongol cavalry fed its horses on the grass of the Eurasian steppe, says Nicola Di Cosmo of Princeton University, one of the study’s authors. A warm climate in the early 1200s helped make the grasslands lush and this, in turn, helped the Mongols extend their empire into Russia, he says.

In 1241, the Mongol army reached the plains’ western limit in Hungary. Led by Genghis Khan’s grandson Batu, the Mongols crushed the Polish and Hungarian armies on open, flat terrain that suited their mobile warfare tactics.

“They were familiar with that environment,” says Di Cosmo. “What they didn’t know is how prone to flooding that particular area was.”

Huge swamp Compared with the rest of the steppe, Hungary has a high water table so it floods easily.

Analysing tree rings in the region, Di Cosmo and his colleagues found that Hungary had a cold, wet winter in early 1242. This probably turned Hungary’s central plain into a huge swamp.

Historical documents the team studied back up this claim, recording, for example, that melting snows kept the Mongol army from attacking a Hungarian castle surrounded by marshes.

Lacking pasture for its horses, the Mongols fell back to drier highlands and then to Russia in search of better grass.

While climate wasn’t the only factor in the reteat, it would be a mistake to ignore it, says Di Cosmo. “It’s like saying the winter in Russia had no effect on Napoleon’s army,” he says.

Michael Mann of Pennsylvania State University, University Park, says the study is interesting, but he warns against over-interpreting the influence of climate on historic events. “I’m sceptical that such ‘climate determinism’ holds nearly as universally as some authors seem to think,” he says. The changes in weather the study reported seemed “modest”, he says.

But Aaron Putnam of the University of Maine in Orono says that the study steered clear of determinism, taking into account all potential factors. “I think it’s convincing,” he says. “The previous explanations of the Mongol withdrawal didn’t add up.”

Horse logistics limited the Mongols, Putnam says. “They were incredibly technologically savvy, but they got into a place where horses just didn’t do well.”

Putnam says that natural weather records like tree rings have much more to tell us about the history of premodern civilisations, which depended heavily on environmental conditions. “It’s just an incredible archive.”

[SkyDancer]

Actually the Magyars came out of the Tibetan hills and migrated into central Europe in what is now Hungary. Mussies invaded Hungary and occupied Budapest for a while. They were however stopped at the gates of Vienna (1683).

[Carriage Hill]

(Kerry)

[EDINVA]

If it hadn’t been for climate change, Eve would never have tempted Adam with that damned apple!

[Fiji Hill]

The Mongols even reached Germany, winning the Battle of Liegnitz in 1241.

[Organic Panic]

So.... Catastrophic global climate change saved Europe and doomed the Mongols.

What to do what to do...

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks nickcarraway.

• Genghis Khan the GREEN: Invader killed so many people that carbon levels plummeted
• Keyword: mongolmassmurderers
• Keyword: 1000genomesproject
• Keyword: parsimoniousness

[SunkenCiv]

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[Fiji Hill]

Some scholars claim Mongolian politics forced the withdrawal

According to the acconts I have read, aftrer their chief died in December of 1241, the Mongols had to return to their capital of Karakorum to elect a new one.

[PapaBear3625]

Michael Mann of Pennsylvania State University, University Park, says the study is interesting, but he warns against over-interpreting the influence of climate on historic events. “I’m sceptical that such ‘climate determinism’ holds nearly as universally as some authors seem to think,” he says. The changes in weather the study reported seemed “modest”, he says.

Mann's "global warming" agenda would be undermined by acknowledging the Medieval Warm Period, a time when (without SUVs and coal-burning power plants) the world was warmer than current times.

[NormsRevenge]

Climate change silver lining.. That time.

Or we’d all be speaking Hordic

[PapaBear3625]

According to the acconts I have read, aftrer their chief died in December of 1241, the Mongols had to return to their capital of Karakorum to elect a new one.

I don't think they would have turned back so easily if they were having much success. It might have just been a convenient excuse to do what they already wanted to do.

[logitech]

tree rings have much more to tell us about the history of premodern civilisations

Tree rings, is there anything they don't know?

[Fiji Hill]

Ghengis Khan International Airport (ULN)

[abclily]

The same Michael Mann of hockey-stick fame?

[M Kehoe]

Good afternoon.

“I should have read all the comments before posting. Oh well, why start now?”

You have learned well grasshopper.

Some time I post a comment before completing the headline.

5.56mm

[Rebelbase]

Ghenis’ grandsons went all the way to the Danube slaughtered a euro army in excess of 20,000 then pulled back due to the Khan’s death in Mongolia.

[dsc]

“Being Hungarian it’s in my DNA (did that DNA thing with Ancestry).”

Do you speak Hungarian?

[OddLane]

One and the same.

[SkyDancer]

Igen, persze hogy emlékszem fiam.

[SkyDancer]

Or: Igen, igen, természetesen (yes, yes, of course I do)