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FReeper Canteen ~ Part VIII of The Mongols ~ December 28, 2004
www.coldsiberia.org ^ | December 28, 2004 | LaDivaLoca

Posted on 12/27/2004 7:55:56 PM PST by LaDivaLoca

 
 

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ANCIENT WARFARE





Part VIII of The Mongols

Military Innovation

The western expansion was a success for the empire until 1241 (see Wahlstatt). As they encountered the peoples of Europe, the Mongols with their advanced way of warfare were unstoppable. The Mongols used (and by doing so, introduced) several revolutionary military ideas to European combatants.
  • Use of articulation. Mongols used a system of horns and flags, blown or raised-and-lowered by the field commander. This allowed them to move their troops to preplanned positions on the field of battle, or modes of attack or retreat (such as charge, withdraw, or flank). In addition, they utilized subcommanders that were empowered to make decisions on the spot.
  • Mongols based their forces almost wholly on light cavalry. Light cavalry consists of primarily archers and light swordsman mounted on horseback. Mobile and numerous, light cavalry can choose its battles, retreating from forces it cannot handle, such as heavy cavalry. Heavy cavalry lacks archers (who can kill at range) and is designed mainly to provide shock - using weight, speed, and fear of their massed movement (no one wants to be trampled to death) to break enemy heavy infantry lines.

Thus, when light cavalry meets heavy cavalry, the lighter, more numerous, faster moving, bow using, well-articulated light cavalry will usually defeat mounted knights - the cream of European military power.

  • Their conception of armor was markedly different. European knights used heavy plate armour (sheets of loops of chain and pieces of metal plate to protect the wearer, restricting his vision and movement). Mongols used silken clothes. The silk cloth allowed Mongol warriors greater ranges of movement, better vision and endurance. It still provided resistance to projectile weapons. It thus gave them a qualitative advantage over their opponents.

If a Mongol soldier was struck with an arrow, it penetrated the skin and sank into the flesh. However, the silk was not cut but pulled into the wound. Mongol doctors could easily pull an arrow from the wound, because it was wrapped in silken cloth. This reduced the chance of infection and made cleaning and dressing the wound easier, hopefully returning the skilled warrior to combat more quickly.

This simple procedure saved many lives. In a prolonged conflict, the Mongols retained more battlefield veterans than their opponents. This usually resulted in a situation where an army of veteran Mongols faced a conscript peasant army, with disastrous results for the Mongols' opponents.

  • Mongols utilized doctrines never before seen. As nomads, Mongols carried all of their wealth and provisions with them on horseback. It was equivalent to placing an entire city on horseback. It was more mobile than many of their opponents' armed forces, who were tied to the towns for supplies.

Since their way of warfare was superior (articulated veteran light cavalry) they could not be bested in combat. The traditional solution to this problem is to attack the opponents' supply tail (food, fields, water, etc.). However, their city-dwelling opponents were tied to a supply tail, not the Mongols.

This doctrines assured their victory against foes throughout their history. The closest modern analogue is the modern aircraft carrier, with its ability to bring an entire city of warriors next door to an opponent on short notice, strike at them, and retreat away, without the possibility of pursuit.

  • Mongols' effective use of terror is often credited for the unprecedented speed with which Mongol armies spread across western Asia and eastern Europe.

First, the Mongols would provide an opportunity to surrender, usually on favourable (certainly to the Mongols) terms. These offers were typically dictated to the first major population center in a new territory.

If the offer was refused, the Mongols would sack the city, execute the entire population (save a handful of skilled workers), and burn the city and the surrounding fields to the ground. They would often construct an edifice of cleaned skulls outside the walls of the destroyed city to serve as a reminder of their passage.

Finally, they would allow a few survivors to flee, to spread terror throughout the countryside. By first offering favourable (or at least acceptable) terms for surrender, and then invariably completely destroying any resistance, it is argued that Mongols forestalled most combat with invaded peoples. The Mongols quickly developed a reputation of being unstoppable, genocidal opponents. After the initial victories, and proof of the Mongols good intentions, it became more difficult for rulers to convince their people to resist an invasion.

Source: http://www.brainyencyclopedia.com/encyclopedia/m/mo/mongols.html

Next Tuesday Part IX of The Mongols




TOPICS: Front Page News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons
KEYWORDS: ancientwarfare; militaryinnovation; mongols
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To: kemathen7

Good Monday, kemathen7......any results in your quest? Did you take all your tests?


321 posted on 12/28/2004 5:54:02 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (Support Our Troops! Operation Valentine's Day ~ www.proudpatriots.org)
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To: Lady Jag

ROTF laughing about the issues with converting to the metric system.


322 posted on 12/28/2004 5:58:02 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (Support Our Troops! Operation Valentine's Day ~ www.proudpatriots.org)
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To: laurenmarlowe

I have permission to use the beautiful sunsets from wallpaper dave. He is a great photographer.

Very relaxing to me.
Glad you liked it.

Save it to your hard drive and enjoy at will.


323 posted on 12/28/2004 5:58:25 PM PST by uncleshag (What do you wanna hear?)
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To: uncleshag

Thank you uncleshag, I will save it!


324 posted on 12/28/2004 6:01:04 PM PST by laurenmarlowe
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To: Fawnn

I saw the pictures of that patrol boat yesterday. It was a sober reminder of the power of water. It was not small.


325 posted on 12/28/2004 6:03:19 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (Support Our Troops! Operation Valentine's Day ~ www.proudpatriots.org)
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To: acad1228
Please be sure to let John know how much we appreciate his service. Thanks, John!!


326 posted on 12/28/2004 6:09:06 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (Support Our Troops! Operation Valentine's Day ~ www.proudpatriots.org)
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To: uncleshag

327 posted on 12/28/2004 6:14:03 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (Support Our Troops! Operation Valentine's Day ~ www.proudpatriots.org)
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To: Kathy in Alaska
Oh, I'm loading up as we speak write!

lol!

328 posted on 12/28/2004 6:17:25 PM PST by uncleshag (What do you wanna hear?)
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To: uncleshag
Yer getting purty good at this. LOL!

uncle.....#300!!


329 posted on 12/28/2004 6:20:48 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (Support Our Troops! Operation Valentine's Day ~ www.proudpatriots.org)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

I'm playing catch-up!
There are real pro's here.
Fierce competition.

Excuses to the coach.

The sun got in my eyes.
Slipped on the grass, coach.
Strap broke on my glove.
I thought the right-fielder had it.
They needed a break.
Next time I'll get it.
Left my glasses at home.
and...

My Mama washed my lucky sock.



330 posted on 12/28/2004 6:29:45 PM PST by uncleshag (What do you wanna hear?)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Ma...did you wash uncleshags lucky sock?


331 posted on 12/28/2004 6:32:51 PM PST by AZamericonnie
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To: laurenmarlowe
Corpus Christi, Texas....

All that snow!! Boy, I'll bet they were surprised.

332 posted on 12/28/2004 6:34:22 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (Support Our Troops! Operation Valentine's Day ~ www.proudpatriots.org)
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To: uncleshag; Kathy in Alaska; AZamericonnie; All
Faith Hill ~ Take Another Piece of My Heart

333 posted on 12/28/2004 6:35:56 PM PST by laurenmarlowe
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To: laurenmarlowe

I'm liking Faith Hill.

Oh. Yes.


334 posted on 12/28/2004 6:40:29 PM PST by uncleshag (What do you wanna hear?)
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To: AZamericonnie; Kathy in Alaska

Not only washed it... she bleached it!


335 posted on 12/28/2004 6:41:28 PM PST by uncleshag (What do you wanna hear?)
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To: AZamericonnie; uncleshag
I don't like socks that can stand up by themselves. Nice clean socks are a good thing.


336 posted on 12/28/2004 6:42:20 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (Support Our Troops! Operation Valentine's Day ~ www.proudpatriots.org)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

I am a re-inforced heel.

Does tomkow know you have his socks?

I heard that's all he wears
under his Scots plaid burka.


337 posted on 12/28/2004 6:45:02 PM PST by uncleshag (What do you wanna hear?)
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To: Kathy in Alaska
Did you know...Alaska has 14 times as many aircraft per capita as the rest of the U.S.

Lake Hood is the largest and busiest base for ski planes and seaplanes.

338 posted on 12/28/2004 6:45:40 PM PST by laurenmarlowe
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To: laurenmarlowe; AZamericonnie; uncleshag; MS.BEHAVIN; mylife; All

Al Hirt ~ Java

339 posted on 12/28/2004 6:53:36 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (Support Our Troops! Operation Valentine's Day ~ www.proudpatriots.org)
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To: uncleshag
Not only washed it... she bleached it!

Well,maybe the elastic won't keep em up now but they smell a site betters! Oh, for heavens sake I hit private!

340 posted on 12/28/2004 6:57:48 PM PST by AZamericonnie
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