[Savage Beast]

Hitler had a point. Julius Caesar--whose name, in it's more modern versions "Kaisar" and "Tsar", still means greatness--and Alexander of Macedonia--whom the world persists in referring to as "The Great"--were dispicable tyrants.

I do like the Mongolian version of the pony express though.

[rmlew]

Let the Turks and Mongols remember their history and rejoice in it as warriors of the steppe.
A union or alliance of countries from the Dardanelles to the Tien Shien mountains can serve as a bulwark against the Islamist Arabs, Communist Chinese, and revanchist Russians. They are Muslims but of various branches and tolerent histories.

These lands have a growing but diverse population. They are rich in oil, natural gas, and other resources. If they do not unite, they will become vassals of the Islamists, Chinese, or resurgent Russians.

[Batrachian]

The Mongols wore silk shirts, so that when they where shot with arrows, the silk would enfold the arrowhead and could be drawn out easily. This little innovation was instrumental to their success.

BTW, I read an interesting book (I can't remember the title now) about how the Mongols where actually pawns of the Chinese even though they had conquered China. They where completely illiterate, and the Chinese where the bureaucrats of the Mongol empire. I'm not sure if it's true, but it's an interesting notion anyway.

[azcap]

It is impossible to apply a modern "humane" standard to ancients leaders. If the Indians or Persians could have, they would have stacked the Mongol skulls just as high. It is important to remember that the early examples of psychological warfare (expressed by public atrocity) are notable only because of their success in intimidating their enemies. All civilizations at that time fought and ruled with a brutality unimaginable today (unless you have lived in someplace like Iraq or Rwanda.) In my opinion prior to the Enlightenment you can't really compare civilizations. Until you can have a civilianization with some recognition of the rights of man moral comparisons are moot. Even relatively "good" civilizations like the Hebrews, the Greeks, or the Moors justified a lot of slaughter at times.

[qam1]

Well How is this any different then the way Christians and Jews hold in high esteem bloodthirsty murderous tyrannts like Moses, Joshua, Judah and others?

Just read Numbers 31, Moses makes Ceasar, Alexander, Genghis Khan and Attila look like pussy cats

[SunkenCiv]

A Blast from the Past.

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