Explaining the Mongol Moment


I found the section of Explaining the Mongol Moment interesting because they talked about the Mongols key to success, which lay in their army. According to one scholar, “Mongol armies were simply better led, organized, and disciplined than those of their opponents” (Strayer 524). I can tell from the reading that these Mongols were warriors who had effective and terrifying battle tactics to defeat their opponents. However, what I found most impressive about them was their discipline and loyalty to their leaders. They stressed the importance of discipline and if any of them abandoned battle, all of them were subject to the death penalty. The leaders of the Mongols shared the same hardships as their men. Chinggis Khan stated, “I eat the same food and am dressed in the same rags as my humble herdsmen. I am always on the forefront, and in battle I am never at the rear” (Strayer 525). Chinggis must have been a very strong leader to implement these qualities of discipline and loyalty to the Mongol armies. It’s no surprise the Mongols flourished so well in winning their battles with the kind of leadership they had. They also had a reputation to uphold as ruthless and brutal warriors. Chinggis had a policy to spare those who submitted, but those who resisted, they were to be destroyed with their wives, children, and dependents. It is pretty harsh killing the wives and children on the people who resist, but I guess for Chinggis, if you do not follow his rules, he will not only take your but your loved ones as well. I assume in conquering other civilizations, anything goes as long as you succeed in it.

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