Among the main characteristics of the Mongol Empire He points out that it was one of the largest empires in the history of mankind. It had its beginning when Genghis Khan unified all the nomadic Mongol tribes in the year 1209 AD. C.
It was constituted for a little more than a century and a half. This is a short life time for an empire with such power.
But this duration makes sense taking into account that they were characterized by having a sudden and dizzying history.
They became very powerful. In their apogee they had dominion over great powers of their time, like China. But it was never a State with solid foundations; therefore, he was prone to fall.
Among the main features of this empire are the legends about its extreme brutality and its military state.
The 5 main characteristics of the Mongol Empire
1- Religion
Although some tribes had converted to Christianity, at the time of Genghis Khan's unification, most Mongolians practiced shamanism. This is why shamanism was the official religion of the empire in its beginnings.
As this empire expanded, other cultures were included. The influence of these was felt in the culture of Mongolia.
Freedom of worship was established thanks to Genghis Khan's obsession with immortality.
In this search he allowed the practice of different religions within his nation, with the hope that some would lead him to his goal. Towards the end of the empire, Tantric Buddhism replaced shamanism as the official religion.
2- Commerce
The silk route crossed the Mongol Empire from section to section. This important trade route connected the Far East with Europe.
The main economic activity for the Mongols was commerce. The Khan left this important open route and favored commercial exchanges.
In this way, the silk route also became an entrance of economic and cultural wealth.
3- Military organization
The military system of the Mongol Empire was one of the most efficient in history. Genghis Khan and his generals are recognized for their capabilities for military strategy.
The strategies that led the empire to grow so much stood out for its ingenuity. It was thanks to this ingenuity that the Mongol army won battles in which the odds were against.
They also used battle techniques from different cultures, thus achieving their own style through adaptation.
4- Violence and physical brutality
The violence of the Mongol Empire is legendary. They felt little compassion for the life of those they considered inferior. Prisoners of war were treated cruelly and executed in painful ways.
One of the most popular methods of execution was to wrap the victim in a carpet and make him trample on horses. Sexual slavery was also practiced with female prisoners.
5- Internal divisions
The fall of the Mongol Empire was due to numerous aspects, all internal. On the one hand, divisions within the ruling factions emerged after the death of the first great Khan. These were taking root with time.
The cultural differences between the inhabitants was also a serious aspect, since they did not get along. This created internal friction in the empire.
And finally, the Mongolian militia that was so efficient at the beginning of the empire became obsolete with the appearance of gunpowder.
Including this explosive in firearms reformulated the way to make war. And the Mongols could not update themselves before their fall.
These aspects fragmented the empire from the inside, until its situation became untenable.
References
- The Mongol empire. (2007) allempires.com
- The Mongol Empire overview. historyonthenet.com
- Mongol empire. (2015) newworldencyclopedia.org
- 7 brutal things that were done in the merciless Mongol empire. (2017) vix.com
- The Mongol empire in the middle ages. (2014) encyclopediahistoria.com
- The heirs of the Mongol empire. (2015) apuntesdehistoria.net
- Genghis Khan. (2017) biografiasyvidas.com