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

[AZamericonnie]

Be safe....

[laurenmarlowe]

Thank you Connie, God Bless our Troops, and Secretary Rumsfeld!

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Those are cool pieces. Jimmy found some neat pieces too.. They are Lewis pieces. (Pronounced Lews) They are historical pieces and I found a few places which make inexpensive reproductions. I can't believe the amount of money some people will spend on chess pieces. When I went to pick up a gift at a game store , a few days ago,they told me they had just sold a $750.00 set of civil war pieces. WOW!!!I wish I was making those silly things!

[mylife]

Any time Pal! Now while Im dipping into the live audio archives....heres one, Nice tune good performance..bootleg (band sanctioned) recording.

Camper Van Beethoven One Of These Days

Gummy you might like this lilting style

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Hello there mylife!

[Diva Betsy Ross]

hello Ms. Feathers. It looks as though you are feeling well! I hope so!

[mylife]

Hullo lil Diva! How are you this evening :^)

[Soaring Feather]

Evening, Diva, thank you, feeling better each day.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

I am well thank you! I am just waiting for Stephen to fall off to sleep! This guy is having a growth spurt so I had to give him three dinners! He is almost in dream land.

[uncleshag]

Face The Flag, Son
A Message from The Duke.

"DONATE, PILGRIM!
and face the Flag, son."

[Colonel_Flagg]

Hello!

Not watching the game here. I live in a state where football as we know it is no longer played. :)

[uncleshag]

That was cool, Thanks!

[StarCMC]

Garth Brooks - The Cowboy Song

[uncleshag]

Evening, Colonel Flagg!

[MoJo2001]

Fret not Colonel!
Glenn Mason is a Buckeye now leading the Gophers.

USC is killing the Sooners. I just got off the phone with one of the relatives in the blue state of Cali. They're just beside themselves with excitement.

I'm not a Matt Leinart fan, but that Carson Palmer is pleasant on the eyes. Hehe! (Just kidding!)

[mylife]

Stephen your son?

Thats a hungry boy L0L

;^)

[laurenmarlowe]

WOW! Double shot of great guys, thank you!

[StarCMC]

Switchfoot - Dare You To Move

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Click on the pic and I'll guide you
to the start of the new thread

[HiJinx]

Mine?