Mongol Empire and Doc

A barbarian decribes a crude person in a primitive state or someone who lacks education or refinement. During the 13th Century a small Asian tribe known as the Mongols conquered much of the known world linking Western and Easter Eurasia. The Mongols were a nomadic people until they acknowledged the supreme leader Genghis Khan in 1206. Most historians formulate an arguement based on the question “The Mongols: How Barbaric Were the “Barbarians”?” The Mongols were not very barbaric because they had a highly sophisticated military, lived by a code of conduct, and helped improve the lives of those they conquered. The Mongols had a very structured military which grouped their warriors into armies of 10,000 commanded by two or three chiefs. Under this unit of 10,000 warriors were 1,000-man brigades, 100-man companies, and 10-man squads. (Doc C) They were expected to carry clothing, cooking pots, dried meat, a water bottle, files for sharpening arrows, a needle and thread and other useful items. The Mongols wore silk which made it easier for the soldier or physician to remove it without ripping further flesh.(Doc B) This clearly shows that the Mongols were well prepared for war and had distinct knowledge of it. Their strategy was to attack their enemies head-on and far right and left creating a barrier leaving them with no where to escape. Although the Mongols were outnumbered, they placed women, children, horses and dummy figures to make it seem as though they had a huge army.(Doc D) Their tactics were very skillful and well thought out. John of Plano Carpini could have left out a valuable note to winnings of the entire Mongol's battle because he most likely did not see all of the war strategies and might not have described it in the exact way. Ata-Malik Juvaini stated that the Mongols severed the heads of the slain from their bodies and heaped them up in piles during the conquering of Nishapur, (Doc E) this document might portray potential bias because Juvaini was a