How The Mongols Were Exceptional
Kayla Miller
October 28, 2014
AP World
What was exceptional about the Mongol Empire? Compare and contrast their unique contributions with what they borrowed from previous civilizations/existing rulers (Consider the following inquiry question to help guide you: Why has period three been defined around the existence of the Mongols?)
Two paragraph summary.
The Mongol Empire was exceptional in many ways, one of which was their military. Their military was exceptionally strong, and even though it was quite small, it was able to conquer more land than empires that lasted twice as long were able to conquer. Genghis Khan was able to unify the Mongols and they, as a unified empire, were able to destroy almost every single opposing army that tried to attack them. Many of their military tactics and weapons were borrowed from other foreign civilizations. This helped make their own army even stronger. They did not borrow everything however; there were many things that were unique to their empire. One thing that was unique is that they would fight beside and tolerate religions that differed from their own. In many situations, you can see people of Buddhist, Islamic, and Christian views all fighting beside each other, despite their differences. Another way that the Mongols were exceptional is the way that they had equality between genders. Even though Confucian texts said that women should be subject to men, the Mongols gave women equal rights with men-they were able to have autonomy in the society, they, in some circumstances, even gave advice to men. They were also respected more than they were in other empires. I think that the Mongols defined this era because they were so different from the classical civilizations. They were not barbarians, like some people thought-they had law codes, did not disrupt other civilizations and empires in chaotic ways, they greatly encouraged trade between empires and civilizations, and had a developed and complex religion. The Mongol
October 28, 2014
AP World
What was exceptional about the Mongol Empire? Compare and contrast their unique contributions with what they borrowed from previous civilizations/existing rulers (Consider the following inquiry question to help guide you: Why has period three been defined around the existence of the Mongols?)
Two paragraph summary.
The Mongol Empire was exceptional in many ways, one of which was their military. Their military was exceptionally strong, and even though it was quite small, it was able to conquer more land than empires that lasted twice as long were able to conquer. Genghis Khan was able to unify the Mongols and they, as a unified empire, were able to destroy almost every single opposing army that tried to attack them. Many of their military tactics and weapons were borrowed from other foreign civilizations. This helped make their own army even stronger. They did not borrow everything however; there were many things that were unique to their empire. One thing that was unique is that they would fight beside and tolerate religions that differed from their own. In many situations, you can see people of Buddhist, Islamic, and Christian views all fighting beside each other, despite their differences. Another way that the Mongols were exceptional is the way that they had equality between genders. Even though Confucian texts said that women should be subject to men, the Mongols gave women equal rights with men-they were able to have autonomy in the society, they, in some circumstances, even gave advice to men. They were also respected more than they were in other empires. I think that the Mongols defined this era because they were so different from the classical civilizations. They were not barbarians, like some people thought-they had law codes, did not disrupt other civilizations and empires in chaotic ways, they greatly encouraged trade between empires and civilizations, and had a developed and complex religion. The Mongol