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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

 
 

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday...
Thank the Veterans who served in
The United States Armed Forces.

 
 

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom?
Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

 
 




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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Have a wonderful day!



Good evening, Goodnight, Good morning, Good afternoon, everyone!
*HUGS* to all!
LaKiWaLoka (
my Hawaiian name)


1 posted on 12/27/2004 7:55:56 PM PST by LaDivaLoca
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub; Kathy in Alaska; MoJo2001; tomkow6; Bethbg79; bentfeather; Radix; ...


2 posted on 12/27/2004 7:57:01 PM PST by LaDivaLoca (There can be no triumph w/o loss, no victory w/o suffering, no freedom w/o sacrifice. THANK U TROOPS)
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To: LaDivaLoca; armyman; Arrowhead1952; darkwing104; txradioguy; Long Cut; Jet Jaguar; SFC Chromey; ...
Click on the pic and I'll guide you
to the start of today's thread




FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT
Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.
CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREAD.





CLICK BELOW!

Mission Accomplished ~
Operation Season's Greetings ~
Thank You!


"Operation Valentine's"
beginning
January 1st - January 21st, 2005.






If you would like to be removed or added to my ping list please click below.

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3 posted on 12/27/2004 7:58:52 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Have you said Thank You to a service man or woman today?)
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To: LaDivaLoca; All


4 posted on 12/27/2004 7:59:16 PM PST by Soaring Feather
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To: LaDivaLoca; All
Good morning Troops, Veterans and Canteeners . . .

. . . I'm spending my Christmas money with my DIL . . . GULP!!! . . .

. . . (Shush . . .it's fun . . . LOL!!!)

Prayers going up.


5 posted on 12/27/2004 7:59:50 PM PST by HopeandGlory (Hey, Liberals . . . PC died on 9/11 . . . GET USED TO IT!!!)
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To: LaDivaLoca

Happy New Year

I hope thhe New Year brings you success!

Thank You for everything you ahve done for our troops!


6 posted on 12/27/2004 8:00:39 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Have you said Thank You to a service man or woman today?)
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To: LaDivaLoca

Thank you, Diva! This has been an extra interesting thread.


7 posted on 12/27/2004 8:00:41 PM PST by Lady Jag (All I want is a kind word, a warm bed, and unlimited power)
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To: LaDivaLoca

HI DIVA!!


MERRY cHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOURS!!

HOW ARE YOU??

HUGS


8 posted on 12/27/2004 8:01:02 PM PST by Soaring Feather
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To: LaDivaLoca

9 posted on 12/27/2004 8:02:10 PM PST by Lady Jag (All I want is a kind word, a warm bed, and unlimited power)
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To: acad1228
Happy Birthday acad1228!



10 posted on 12/27/2004 8:02:40 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Happy Birthday acad1228!)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

11 posted on 12/27/2004 8:03:21 PM PST by Lady Jag (All I want is a kind word, a warm bed, and unlimited power)
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Comment #12 Removed by Moderator

To: armyman; Arrowhead1952; darkwing104; txradioguy; Long Cut; Jet Jaguar; SFC Chromey; spiderman9; ...



FYI : Look in upper right corner of "My Comments" page.
Set it for "Brief" instead of Full.
You only will get title of thread and who pinged you.
No graphics will load.

13 posted on 12/27/2004 8:04:32 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Have you said Thank You to a service man or woman today?)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; MoJo2001; LaDivaLoca; bentfeather; beachn4fun; Fawnn; Ragtime Cowgirl; StarCMC; ...
From the men in the Military and the Canteen


14 posted on 12/27/2004 8:06:41 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Have you said Thank You to a service man or woman today?)
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To: LaDivaLoca; 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

Thank you for today's thread! Thank you to all our Troops for your service.


15 posted on 12/27/2004 8:07:13 PM PST by laurenmarlowe
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To: All
To every service man or woman reading this thread.
Thank You for your service to our country.
No matter where you are stationed,
No matter what your job description
Know that we are are proud of each and everyone of you.


To our military readers, we remain steadfast in keeping the Canteen doors open.
The FR Canteen is Free Republics longest running daily thread specifically designed
to provide entertainment and morale support for the military.

The doors have been open since Oct 7 2001,
the day of the start of the war in Afghanistan.

We are indebted to you for your sacrifices for our Freedom.


FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT
Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.
CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREAD.



16 posted on 12/27/2004 8:07:24 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Have you said Thank You to a service man or woman today?)
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To: All

It previewed fine...what happened to my pic?


17 posted on 12/27/2004 8:08:08 PM PST by trussell (I Never Frown, even when I am sad, because I never know who is falling in love with my Smile!!!)
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To: acad1228; StarCMC

Garth Brooks Much too young

Happy Birthday Acad! 

(Click the pic for music!)

Star...thank you for the posting lesson!! Hugs!!

18 posted on 12/27/2004 8:13:13 PM PST by trussell (I Never Frown, even when I am sad, because I never know who is falling in love with my Smile!!!)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

Good morning, Tonkin. Lovely flowers in the Canteen today.Thank You guys, and for your service to our country, Thank You.


19 posted on 12/27/2004 8:13:17 PM PST by Soaring Feather
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To: Admin Moderator

Thank you in advance for deleting my messed up post!


20 posted on 12/27/2004 8:14:47 PM PST by trussell (I Never Frown, even when I am sad, because I never know who is falling in love with my Smile!!!)
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