First, with the exception a few, Mongol men joined the army and began training from a young age. Thus, they developed experience that could help them on the battlefield. Second, they were skilled horseman. Most armies have a few select soldiers placed on horses, referred to as the “cavalry”. However, with the Mongols, this was not the case. Much of the army consisted of soldiers on horseback. This made getting in and out of the field swift and easy. In addition, enemies could not pursue Mongols for too long, as they were not used to the long ride home on horseback. Thirdly, the use of the composite bow by the Mongols was an extreme disadvantage for enemies. They had more power and range than a longbow, up to one hundred yards. Furthermore, soldiers would be firing arrows while riding horses with deadly accuracy, avoiding close-range sword fights and reducing casualties. Fourthly, their disregard for common war rules and complete destruction of conquered lands aided in the growth of the empire. Common war rules were broken. For example, ceasefires during the night were not practiced. This was to tire the enemy out by preventing them from sleeping. Complete destruction
First, with the exception a few, Mongol men joined the army and began training from a young age. Thus, they developed experience that could help them on the battlefield. Second, they were skilled horseman. Most armies have a few select soldiers placed on horses, referred to as the “cavalry”. However, with the Mongols, this was not the case. Much of the army consisted of soldiers on horseback. This made getting in and out of the field swift and easy. In addition, enemies could not pursue Mongols for too long, as they were not used to the long ride home on horseback. Thirdly, the use of the composite bow by the Mongols was an extreme disadvantage for enemies. They had more power and range than a longbow, up to one hundred yards. Furthermore, soldiers would be firing arrows while riding horses with deadly accuracy, avoiding close-range sword fights and reducing casualties. Fourthly, their disregard for common war rules and complete destruction of conquered lands aided in the growth of the empire. Common war rules were broken. For example, ceasefires during the night were not practiced. This was to tire the enemy out by preventing them from sleeping. Complete destruction