Mongolia: A History

The Setting for Mongol (2007)

History of the Mongols

• The Mongolian Empire existed during the 13^th – 14^th centuries, and spanned Eastern Europe and across Asia.
• It is the largest contiguous empire in world history
• At its largest, it stretched from the Danube to the Sea of Japan, and from the Arctic to Camoja
• It covered 33 000 000 km2, which was 22% of the total land area in the world
• The Empire held over 100 million people

• During the 10^th century, the Jin Dynasty ruled over Mongolia, along with Machruia, and parts of Northern China
• When it came to the early 12^th century, Qabul Khan, a Mongol and Temujin’s (Genghis Kahn’s) great-grandfather drove this dynasty out
• During these years there were five powerful tribes: the Kereyds, the Mongols, the Naimains, the Merkits, and the Tatars.
• When Genghis came to rule, he united these tribes through political manipulation and military strength

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Lifestyle and Beliefs of the Mongols

• The Mongol Empire was governed by a code, the Yassa Code, which was created by Genghis Kahn
• This Empire did not place any weight on the ethnicity or race of an individual.
• Religious tolerance was also very high because of the long held belief that religious was a personal choice.
• The Mongolian Empire is known as being one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse empires in the history of the world.
• Important figures, such as religious figures, teachers, and doctors, were exempt from taxes.

The people of the Mongolian Empire were nomadic group, and travelling to different locations frequently. When living in an area, they resided in structures called yurts. Yurts were constructed of a circular wooden frame with a felt cover.

Mongol Women

• It is believed that before he died, Genghis attempted to change the Empire so that all individuals were equal, including women – however, there is no solid evidence.
• Women played a relatively important role in the Mongolian Empire.
• When a Khan died, his wife often ruled for a period of time.

• Before Genghis Khan became powerful, many tribes practiced Buddhism, Muslim, Shamanism, and Christianity.
• His father’s blood-brother and Genghis’ future ally, Ong Khan, converted to Nestorian Christianity during his reign.
• Religious and racial tolerance was a well established theory in the Mongolian Empire.

Religious Beliefs in the Empire

Genghis Khan

• Born 1162, Genghis was originally named Temujin.
• Genghis Khan is considered by many to be the founder of the Mongol Empire.
• It is reported that when he was born, he held a blood clot in his fist, which was taken to be a sign of greatness.
• He was the third-oldest son of his father Yesugei, who was a Chief of the Kiyad tribe.

• At the age of 9 years, Genghis became part of an arranged marriage.
• He was taken to the household of his young bride, Borte, and was to stay there until the age of 12.
• When Yesugei, his father, was poisoned by a rival tribe, he returned home to claim his position as “khan”.
• The tribe did not accept the young Genghis as their leader, and they abandoned him and his family.

• Left behind, the family lived in complete poverty and endured hardships
• Genghis killed one of his half-brothers during a hunting excursion, during an argument about the division of a catch.
• In 1182, he was captured and held prisoner by the Bjartskular, the tribe’s former allies.
• He eventually escaped, and gained an entourage of friends and family he could trust.

• At age 16, Genghis finally married Borte.
• They had four sons: Jochi, Chagatai, Ogedei, and Tolui.
• As was customary of the Mongolians, Genghis had multiple wives, and many other children.
• These children by other wives were excluded from the succession, and no records of any daughters exist.
• Borte was the only one of his wives considered ‘Empress’

• Shortly after this marriage, Borte was kidnapped by the Merkits tribe.
• Genghis quickly enlisted the help of his childhood friend, Jamuka, who was a Khan.
• They were successful in retrieving Borte, who gave birth to a son, Jochi nine months later – this led to speculation regarding the parentage of her first son.

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• Genghis’ rise to power began after the death of his father.
• He decided to offer his services to his father’s “blood brother”, Ong Khan.
• They formed a solid relationship, and Ong Khan even came to his assist, along with Jamukha, when Borte was kidnapped by the Merkits.
• This rescue created a rift between Jamukha and Genghis, paving the way to their eventual feud.

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Rise to Power

• Genghis set out to unite the Mongols
• As he defeated tribes, he promised civilians and soldiers wealth from war spoils.
• When he defeated tribes, he did not drive them away – he took the tribe under the protection if his tribe, integrating the members.
• He would have his own mother adopt orphans from conquered tribes, making them part of his family.
• These actions inspired loyalty and dedication in Genghis’ people, making his power greater.
• By 1206 Genghis had united all tribes under his rule.

Mongolian Empire - 1206

The Mongolian Empire at the beginning of Genghis Khan’s reign.

• Many were jealous of Genghis’ success.
• Toghrul, a former friend, united with Jamukha in a force that opposed Genghis, but they were defeated.
• Jamukha escaped, and Toghrul was killed.
• Jamukha then united with the Naimans, assuming the title “Gur Khan”, or “universal ruler”
• The assumption of this title by Jamukha was the “last straw”, and Jamukha formed a coalition of tribes to oppose Genghis’ forces.

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Betrayals and Conflicts

• Prior to this battle, a number of Jamukha’s generals abandoned, one of which was Jamukha’s younger brother, Subutai
• After several unsuccessful battles during the year of 1206, Jamukha’s own men turned him over to Genghis.
• Genghis is thought to have offered his friendship and forgiveness to Jamukha, which he refused, instead asking for a noble death.
• Genghis killed the men who turned Jamukha in because of their disloyalty.

• Genghis went on to defeat the other rival tribes.
• The defeat of these tribes left Genghis Khan the sole ruler of the Mongolian Empire
• Along with this incident, Genghis’ career was marked with betrayals, among them conflicts with his old ally, Ong Khan, his son, Jochi, and an important Shaman.

• Genghis Khan’s military strategies demonstrated his interest in gathering intelligence and understanding the thought processes of his rivals.
• He had an extensive spy network and messenger routes.
• He was quick to adopt new warfare strategies, for example, the seige warfare used by the Chinese.

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Military Strategies

• In battle, the Mongolians used small horses, bows and arrows, and swords.
• Boys were trained to ride these horses at a young age, and were welcomed into military life at the age 15.
• The Mongolians created lightweight bows and arrows, made specifically for the small horses that carried them.
• For battle at a close distance, they used swords, axes, spears, pitchforks, clubs and maces.
• The wealthy often had double sided blades.
• The army provided weapons for ever soldier, but armour was provided only for the wealthy.

• Soldiers often wore iron chains, and protected their limbs with leather strips.
• They wore iron helmets, and carried iron shields.
• The horses also had armour – their knees were protected with iron armour, and they also had a head plate.
• Many could not afford armour, and fought unprotected.

• Genghis put a lot of trust in his generals, making sure they were trusted friends and allies.
• With the use of seige warfare, in which the Mongols excelled, came the conquering of more tribes.
• They frequently used the “feigned retreat” to break enemy groups apart.

• Genghis’ religion is thought be either Shamanism or Tengriism, which were common at the time.
• He was tolerant religiously.
• He was curious about the lessons that could be learned from the teachings of other religions.
• He often consulted Christian missionaries, Muslim merchants, and Taoist monks.

Religion

Death

• In 1227, Genghis Khan died after conquering the Tangut people.
• The reason for his death is unknown.
• Legend states that he was thrown off his horse during a battle, and died of a deadly fever contracted soon after the injury.

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Mongolian Empire - 1227.

The Mongolian Empire at the end of Genghis Khan’s reign.

After Death

• Prior to his death, Genghis had divided his empire among his four sons – Ogedei, Chagatai, Tolui, and Jochi.
• At the time of his death, the Mongolian Empire stretched from the Caspian Sea to the Sea of Japan.
• The expansion of the Empire continued for a generation or more after his death.

Ogedei

• Ogedei was Genghis’ first successor.
• It was under his reign that the expansion of the Monoglian Empire reached its peak.
• He also began a war that would last until 1279.
• The result of this war was the gain of complete control over all of China, as well as expansion into Russia and Eastern Europe.

Mongolian Empire - 1259

The Mongolian Empire during the reign of Ogedei.

Fall of the Mongolian Empire

• With the death of Abu Said Bahatur Khan in 1335, chaos ensued.
• Rule in Persia fell completely.
• His successor was killed a year after his death by a governor, and the land was divided between the Suldus, the Jalayir, Qasarid, Togha Temur, and Persia Warlords.
• The entirety of the realm was engaged in a war.

• To add to the chaos, the Black Death, a disastarous plague, broke out, lasting between the years of 1313 and 1331.
• It killed off millions – by the end of the 14^th century approximately 70 to 100 million lives were lost within the Empire.
• With this, all western dominions were lost between the years of 1342 and 1369.
• Warring was frequent, and warlords set up their own tribes.

• The Mongol influence was declining rapidly by the mid 12^th century.
• In 1368, the Mongols lost control over most of China to the Ming rebels, fleeing to their homeland, Mongolia.
• Over the next few centuries, the Mongolian Empire would be completely devastated.

Mongol (2007)

• Mongol is a historical film directed by Sergei Bodrov.
• It follows the life of a young Genghis Khan, and his rise to power.

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Mongol (2007) - Awards

• Golden Eagle Award for Best Costume Design and Best Sound Design.
• Nika Award for Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematographer, Best Costume Designer, and Best Sound.
• Asian Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.
• Nominated for the 2007 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
• Nominated for Asia Pacific Screen Award for Achievement in Cinematography.

Bibliography

• Szczepanski, Kallie. "Genghis Khan Biography." Asian History - History of Asia . http://asianhistory.about.com/od/profilesofasianleaders/p/GenghisKhanProf.htm (accessed June 11, 2010).
• Unknown. "Mongol Empire - New World Encyclopedia." Info:Main Page - New World Encyclopedia. http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Mongol_Empire (accessed June 11, 2010).
• Unknown. "Genghis Khan and the Great Mongol Empire." MacroHistory : World History. http://www.fsmitha.com/h3/h11mon.htm (accessed June 8, 2010).
• Unknown. "The Mongol Empire - All Empires." All Empires: Online History Community. http://www.allempires.com/article/index.php?q=The_Mongol_Empire (accessed June 7, 2010).