Recently I have been quite interested in a very different group of successful people. These people are known as the Mongols. They have been personified as "bloodthirsty animals", and most people attempt to stray from them. However, I don't believe this is true, I believe that there is a different side of these people, a calmer side, and I want to make sure I find it.
~ Marco Polo
Dear Journal,
I have been going around asking people for their thoughts on the Mongols. Based on how these people responded it is clear that the majority of people view the Mongols as barbaric thieves that only know how to hurt, kill and destroy. After hearing this response repetitively, I asked them why everyone had this violent image of them. There responses were that the Mongols would literally kill anyone who got in their way while conquering land. Hearing these responses made me realize that I was not going to get any positive answers from these people. So I decided that I should become part of the Mongol community so that I could get more answers. As soon as I was apart of the community, I started asking "my fellow Mongols" why we were so violent. I got a few strange looks, but some answered. The reason for their violence is mainly because that is their strategy for conquering land. Creating fear and panic causes some enemy soldiers to run away, making the area easier to conquer. For those soldiers who have stayed, the Mongols whip them. Also some Mongols had told me that they were only violent because, their leader Genghis Khan told them to be violent. "The greatest joy a man can know is to conquer his enemies and drive them before him. To ride their horses and take away their possessions. To see the faces of those who were dear to them bedewed with tears, and to clasp their wives and daughters in his arms" (www.uwgb.edu, Genghis Khan). After hearing this phrase, I just knew that there had to be innocence somewhere in these people.
~Marco Polo
Dear Journal,
Today I went around asking the women Mongols about their positive qualities. They were confused at first, most answered. I gathered that most people, non-mongols, do not see the positiveness of the Mongols because only the negativeness are focused on. The Mongolian women have higher statuses and rights,which is very scarce compared to other societies. The Mongols all have physical courage, strength, discipline, and obedience. However these characteristics are only showed toward their own laws. The Mongols also have an oppressive sense of loyalty and honor. They expect it in their enemies as well.
Genghis Khan was once wounded by an unidentified rider on one of his journeys back from conquering. Genghis Khan could have killed that man right then and there, but he did not. People have said that he only spared the man's soul so that he could become a loyal follower, and a small amount say that Genghis Khan was just being kind. Later on the man was complimented by Genghis and became one of the greatest generals of the Mongol military. These men and women do have greater side to them, people just tend to look at the negatives rather than the positives.
~Marco Polo
Dear Journal,
The Mongols had established a great trading market. However not by caravans like everyone, they realized that it was more expensive that way. So to solve this issue, they established Ortogh. Ortogh is like a resting area where merchants can re-stock on their supplies.With this new idea, the Mongols were great promoters of trading. The Mongols are very good with cultures. Due to the conquering of many different regions, they know a lot about various different cultures. For example, the Middle Eastern cultures were far from being similar to the European cultures. However the Mongols still managed to bring the two cultures together.
~Marco Polo
________________________________________________________________________
The Mongol Empire has a lot of similarities with numerous other Empires. The Islamic Empire is a great example of one.These two empires are very similar because of the tolerance of religion, trade, expansion, and legacy. The Mongols did not tolerate any other cultures or religions in their empire, everything had to go how they wanted it to or you would most likely be killed. In the Islamic Empire, it was very similar, it was not as drastic but still similar. In the Islamic Empire, the Muslims did not approve of any religion that was not Islam. Trade is another similarity between the two empires. The Mongols traded throughout the entirety of Eurasia. Like wise the Muslims did the same. Expansion is one of the main similarities. The Mongols had successful expansion starting from current day Mongolia, all of China and Middle East and the majority of Europe. The Muslims conquered all of the Middle East, Northern Africa and southern Asia. Now this last one, legacy, may sound strange, but if you think about it, these two empires have been the largest and most successful. The Islamic Empire still has a great effect in history today, Muslims are talked about everywhere, although not in a particularly positive way. The Mongols are seen in movies, not as great but they are still greatly remembered for their fuzzy pointed hats and excessive killing. What I find most interesting about these two empires, is that the Mongols nearly destroyed the Islamic Empire, yet they still have so much in common. ~Faiza Ismail (2014)
Works Cited:
~ Marco Polo
Dear Journal,
I have been going around asking people for their thoughts on the Mongols. Based on how these people responded it is clear that the majority of people view the Mongols as barbaric thieves that only know how to hurt, kill and destroy. After hearing this response repetitively, I asked them why everyone had this violent image of them. There responses were that the Mongols would literally kill anyone who got in their way while conquering land. Hearing these responses made me realize that I was not going to get any positive answers from these people. So I decided that I should become part of the Mongol community so that I could get more answers. As soon as I was apart of the community, I started asking "my fellow Mongols" why we were so violent. I got a few strange looks, but some answered. The reason for their violence is mainly because that is their strategy for conquering land. Creating fear and panic causes some enemy soldiers to run away, making the area easier to conquer. For those soldiers who have stayed, the Mongols whip them. Also some Mongols had told me that they were only violent because, their leader Genghis Khan told them to be violent. "The greatest joy a man can know is to conquer his enemies and drive them before him. To ride their horses and take away their possessions. To see the faces of those who were dear to them bedewed with tears, and to clasp their wives and daughters in his arms" (www.uwgb.edu, Genghis Khan). After hearing this phrase, I just knew that there had to be innocence somewhere in these people.
~Marco Polo
Dear Journal,
Today I went around asking the women Mongols about their positive qualities. They were confused at first, most answered. I gathered that most people, non-mongols, do not see the positiveness of the Mongols because only the negativeness are focused on. The Mongolian women have higher statuses and rights,which is very scarce compared to other societies. The Mongols all have physical courage, strength, discipline, and obedience. However these characteristics are only showed toward their own laws. The Mongols also have an oppressive sense of loyalty and honor. They expect it in their enemies as well.
Genghis Khan was once wounded by an unidentified rider on one of his journeys back from conquering. Genghis Khan could have killed that man right then and there, but he did not. People have said that he only spared the man's soul so that he could become a loyal follower, and a small amount say that Genghis Khan was just being kind. Later on the man was complimented by Genghis and became one of the greatest generals of the Mongol military. These men and women do have greater side to them, people just tend to look at the negatives rather than the positives.
~Marco Polo
Dear Journal,
The Mongols had established a great trading market. However not by caravans like everyone, they realized that it was more expensive that way. So to solve this issue, they established Ortogh. Ortogh is like a resting area where merchants can re-stock on their supplies.With this new idea, the Mongols were great promoters of trading. The Mongols are very good with cultures. Due to the conquering of many different regions, they know a lot about various different cultures. For example, the Middle Eastern cultures were far from being similar to the European cultures. However the Mongols still managed to bring the two cultures together.
~Marco Polo
________________________________________________________________________
The Mongol Empire has a lot of similarities with numerous other Empires. The Islamic Empire is a great example of one.These two empires are very similar because of the tolerance of religion, trade, expansion, and legacy. The Mongols did not tolerate any other cultures or religions in their empire, everything had to go how they wanted it to or you would most likely be killed. In the Islamic Empire, it was very similar, it was not as drastic but still similar. In the Islamic Empire, the Muslims did not approve of any religion that was not Islam. Trade is another similarity between the two empires. The Mongols traded throughout the entirety of Eurasia. Like wise the Muslims did the same. Expansion is one of the main similarities. The Mongols had successful expansion starting from current day Mongolia, all of China and Middle East and the majority of Europe. The Muslims conquered all of the Middle East, Northern Africa and southern Asia. Now this last one, legacy, may sound strange, but if you think about it, these two empires have been the largest and most successful. The Islamic Empire still has a great effect in history today, Muslims are talked about everywhere, although not in a particularly positive way. The Mongols are seen in movies, not as great but they are still greatly remembered for their fuzzy pointed hats and excessive killing. What I find most interesting about these two empires, is that the Mongols nearly destroyed the Islamic Empire, yet they still have so much in common. ~Faiza Ismail (2014)
Works Cited:
"The Mongols in World History | Asia Topics in World History." The Mongols in World History | Asia Topics in World History. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2014. <http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/>
"The Mongols." The Mongols. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2014.<https://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/WestTech/xmongol.htm>
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