Genghis Khan
Now with a larger following and the help of Togrul and the Chin (a large civilization in northern China), Temuchin was able to defeat the Tartars and avenge his fathers death (Nicolle 18). Temuchin continued to build power by removing rivals (Nicolle 18-19). Deals were struck with most Mongol chieftains giving them leadership roles and wives (Humphrey 47). These chiefs who would not serve under other chiefs were willing to serve under the dominating Temuchin (Humphrey 47). Eventually Jamuga became Temuchins primary rival allying with Temuchins enemies in a series of campaigns which came to include even Togrul and the Kereits (Nicolle 19). Using superior political and military skill, Temuchin defeated and integrated all opposing Mongol tribes (Marshall 28-32). By 1206 Temuchin led more than two million people and ruled land stretching a 1000 miles from west to east and 600 miles from Siberia in the north to the Gobi Desert in the south (Humphrey 57, 63). Temuchins followers, while still nomadic, were now united behind their leader and considered themselves one nation of Mongols (Humphrey 59). Temuchin took the name Genghis which appropriately meant universal leader (USA Today 1). Having created a nation Genghis now looked to build an empire (Humphrey 77-78). During his lifetime Genghis conquered Hsi Hsia a southwestern border country of Mongolia, the Chin empire of north China, and (after being provoked by the massacre of a trade caravan and subsequent murder of his ambassador) the medieval Muslim kingdom of Khwarezm (Marshall 42-57). Genghis was able to consistently defeat larger forces by using ruthless military strategies which are well-known and innovative military strategies which should be well known (Marshall 37-57). Genghis highly disciplined troops were equally capable of slaughtering civilians whose armies refused to surrender and mastering the advanced methods required to capture fortified cities (Humphrey 82-83). Well supplied and constantly drilled in war games, the Mongolian men were always prepared for war (Humphrey 68). In the field of battle Genghis maintained close communications with commanders using swift "arrow messengers, signal flags, and fire (Humphrey 79-78). The entire army moved and attacked on horseback and there were always one or two fresh horses available for each man (Humphrey 65). Combined with other tactics, the incredible mobility of Genghis forces (which was probably not matched until the German blitzkrieg of WWII) always gave him the advantage of surprise (Humphrey 67-68). The History of Mongolia Most of the Western world views Genghis Khan as a simple savage who overwhelmed others by brute force (Marshall 64). However, Genghis was a cunning warrior, a superb motivator, an organized leader, and a wise ruler who valued loyalty, education, strict laws, and the exchange of knowledge and goods with other cultures. Genghis created Mongolia and established an empire that reached from the Pacific Ocean to the Black Sea and from Siberia to Tibet (USA Today 1). Genghis died in 1227 but the structure and tradition the great leader established did not (Nicolle 46-47). Descendants were well positioned to expand Genghis Khans Mongol Empire from the Pacific to the Danube and from Siberia to the Indian Ocean, an area in which half the population of the world then lived (Humphrey 107). It took a genius, not a savage, to accomplish this. The Mongolian Empire. Bibliography Humphrey, Judy. Genghis Khan. New York: Chelsea House of Publishers, 1987. Lister, R.P. Genghis Khan. New York: Dorset Press, 1969. Marshall, Robert. Storm from the East. Berkely: University of California Press, 1952. Nicolle, David. The Mongol Warlords. United Kingdom: Firebird Books, 1990. "The Historical Mongol Empire." Genghis Khan. 19pars. Online. Internet. 20 March 1998. Available: http.//www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/2532/page2.html. "Treasures from Inner Mongolia." USA Today Magazine May 1994. 15pars. Online EBSCOHost. 10 March 1998. |