Essay On Mongol Armies

When we consider all the armies in history, we like to consider their weapons, fighting techniques, organization, and movement patterns. But most of all, we consider the impact this army had during the time of their attacks and what happened after their attacks took place. The Mongols armies are a prime example of this. In just the lifetime of Genghis Khan, the man who originally brought them together, they conquered a large part of Asia. But how did they conquer this area in such a short time? Although the Mongol armies originated as a divided group of people, they were able to make a conquest in a short period of time because of superior war tactics, intimidation, a motivation by the “Eternal Heaven,” and the best weapons and traveling systems in the time period. …show more content…
The main motivation was the “Eternal Heaven.” Just as the Chinese had the “Mandate of Heaven” to justify their acts of overthrowing other governments and dynasties, the Mongols also were provided a reason for why they did what they did. This was noted when the Great Khan answered Pope Innocent IV letter by stating that the Eternal Heaven was on their side, and that is why they were able to slaughter all of these groups. In his own words he says, “If not by the command of Heaven, how can anyone slay or conquer out of his own strength?” But beyond the spirituality of the Mongols, they could also be motivated in other ways. When Genghis Khan sent out his men, he would occasionally allow them to plunder an area and take all they could. This was another connection similar to the Chinese legalistic system. Those who did what was wrong would receive harsh punishment, but those who did well received great rewards. It seems that with divine motivation and motivation financially, it was a rare occasion when a Mongol soldier was not convinced to battle to his greatest