FReeper Canteen ~ Part IX of The Mongols ~ January 4, 2005

www.coldsiberia.org ^ | January 4, 2005 | LaDivaLoca

[LaDivaLoca]

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Part IX of The Mongols

Genghis Khan

The Mongolians of the 12^th and 13^th century were seen as nothing more than savage barbarians by their enemies, who inhabited what is now China, Russia, and the Middle East (Nicolle 7). Because the Mongolians were brutal and because Mongol history was mostly recorded by Mongol victims, this view has lasted almost eight hundred years (Nicolle 7). However under their greatest leader, Genghis Khan, the Mongolians were much more than wild and undisciplined crushers of cities, agriculture, and established civilizations. Genghis Khan created more than he destroyed. A military genius, Genghis led methodical campaigns that first brought together the warring tribes of Mongolia into a nation and then conquered Mongolia’s powerful neighboring empires (USA Today 1). Not only did Genghis create Mongolia the ruler brought education, including Mongolia’s first written language, and a code of laws to the country (USA Today 1). Finally, Genghis Khan laid the foundation for the Mongol Empire, one of the greatest empires of all time (Marshall 64-65). Heritage of Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan was born "Temuchin" around 1167 (Marshall 24). The name was taken from one of the Tartars (a rival nomadic tribe) who Temuchin’s father, Yesugei, had killed (Nicolle 17-18). According to legend, Temuchin was born holding a blood clot in his fist (Lister 18). This was considered to be a symbol that the child would be a heroic fighter (Lister 18). Temuchin became head of the family at the age of just 12 or 13 after Yesugei was slain by a group of Tartars (Nicolle 17). Yesugei had been a lesser chief of the Borjigin clan but the clan rejected the young Temuchin as leader and cast his family out (Nicolle 17). For a period of time Temuchin’s family lived in extreme poverty but through courageous deeds, such as escaping capture and retrieving stolen horses, Temuchin was able to attract followers and build a reputation that spread across Mongolia (geocities.com 2-3).

In addition to many followers Temuchin was also able to attract two strong allies. The most important was Yesugei’s blood brother Togrul, leader of the Kereit tribe, one of the most powerful Mongolian tribes at that time (Humphrey 39). Togrul helped gather together Yesguei’s followers under Temuchin when the Merkits (another Mongolian tribe) kidnapped Temichin’s wife Borte (Humphrey 39). Matters of "honor" and "revenge" were the source of much tribal conflict and the motive for this kidnapping (Lister 68-69). Yesugei’s wife had been taken from the Merkits and so Borte was taken to even the score (Nicolle 18). In the end this benefited Temuchin enormously since Togrul also convinced Jamuga (a childhood friend of Temuchin who now led a large tribe) to join Temuchin and Togrul in a war against the Merkits (Humphrey 44). The three men defeated the Merkits and retrieved Borte (Humphrey 44). This was Temuchin's first command and the victory greatly improved his image and increased his power (Marshall 27-28). Large numbers of young, devoted warriors were drawn to him (Lister 102-103). After Jamuga helped Temuchin defeat the Merkits the friendship was renewed and followers were combined (Humphrey 46). When the two strong leaders came into conflict and separated about a year and a half later many of Jamuga’s followers decided to remain with Temuchin (Humphrey 46). At the age of about twenty Temuchin was declared "Khan," or ruler, of several tribes (Lister 99-101). Genghis Khan

Next Tuesday Conclusion of The Mongols: Ghenghis Khan

[GummyIII]

Hi, Bentfeather! So good to see your posts. Glad you are home. Hugs!

[Soaring Feather]

Hi Gummy!! Happy Belated New Year!!


Thank you and HUGS!

[darkwing104]

It's not a Ford truck, is it? Dodge.

Nope, a Chevy Avalanche

[Lady Jag]

I'm batting zero today but that is a nice looking truck!

[beachn4fun]

It is that burnt orange, too? I'm not much of an orange person (fruit or color ) but I sure do like that burnt orange.

[beachn4fun]

OR.........we could force him to wear one of Tom's burkas!

[GummyIII]

Hi, LJ! Gotta run, but wanted to say hi.

[Kathy in Alaska]

OK, blackie, ((HUGS)), what are you doing with our 20 degree weather earlier. IT'S RAINING HERE!!! My whole neighborhood is a huge sheet of ice as it continues to rain this morning. This is winter!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

ms feather.....#250 and #400!!

[blackie]

Winter is good ~ we're going out for a Mexican lunch. :)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Angel Boy.....#300!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Jake's Momma.....#350!!

[Fawnn]

I'm 1/16 Cherokee (from my mother's side), but I didn't inherit that particular "skill." ;)

[Fawnn]

bentfeather!!! #400!!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good afternoon, Meekie, and thanks for my cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows. Weather is ugly...if has been raining since yesterday afternoon. It's not supposed to rain in the winter.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good afternoon, E. ((HUGS)) It is awful here...it's raining.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Happy first day back at work, Angel Boy! Good Tuesday afternoon, Patriotic Pattie!

[Kathy in Alaska]

What are we studying today? Hi Jimmy. Hi Stephen.

[beachn4fun]

According to my mother, her maternal grandfather was suppose to be full-blood Cherokee (I've seen pictures of him (since he died way before I was born) and he looks more Irish when he was younger so I don't think he was full-blood!). I have yet to get the genealogy information on that side to see how much of this is true. I know I have some Blackfoot (father's side) and Cherokee (mother's side), but, I must say, I don't think I inherited that skill either!

[Soaring Feather]

LOL!!!


Thank You for my Rubies and my feet. I just don't know what I would do without your keeping me held together!

:-)