The Legacy of the Mongols - Research Paper Example

 Legacy of the Mongols The Mongols are included in the most important civilizations in human history. In fact the Mongols established one of the most influential empires in world history. For that matter, the focus of the paper is to discuss the legacy of the Mongols and the important contributions to the world which can mainly be attributed to the reign of the Mongol Empire. History of the Mongols The legacy of the Mongols can be established through the presentation of their roots as the reference point of their growth. The nomadic Mongol Empire originated from the eastern end of the central Asian steppes, a region known for rough weather and surrounded by different forms of terrain. It is surrounded by Altai and Tian Shan Mountains in the west, the Siberian forest in the north, the Gobi Dessert in the south and the Greater Kuinggan Range in the east. Aside from the weather, minimal bodies of water, the distance from the ocean and the quality of the soil were the most significant challenges faced by the Mongols (Burgan 15). In the early stage of the Mongolian history, they made use of the different resources to be able to survive such as farming, livestock and trading with adjacent nations such as China and Central Asia. But the resources were not answering to needs of the people. These factors triggered the movement of the Mongols, thus, they became known as the nomadic people (Burgan 15; Morgan and Amitai-Preiss 5). The establishment of their own society was the primary stages in the history of the Mongols prior to the establishment of the empire. Even through all the challenges, the Mongols were able to establish states and conquer nations (Morgan and Amitai-Preiss 12). Through the history of the Mongols, there are different contributions that can be considered important to the international community. Legacy of the Mongols The legacy of the Mongols can be defined by the contributions made by the Mongol Empire and the different factors that can be attributed to the nation that affected and contributed to human civilization in different aspects. There were different aspects that had been positively affected by the Mongols and the reign of the Mongol Empire. Beyond the prejudice of terror and nomadic activities, the Mongols ‘widened the horizons’ in terms of international relations. They also made the cultural exchange and trade possibilities more that what can be expected in their time. They practiced ‘commercial adventurism and entrepreneurial liberty’ across the territorial boundaries which can be compared to the modern day state of trade. The Mongols were known as ‘cultural brokers’ responsible for the cultivation and enrichment of the activities between different countries. This can be attributed to the fact that concepts such migration and population movement, financing of caravans and marketing of different products and goods had been by the Mongols in the 13th century (Lane 97) One of the contributions of the Mongols was referred to as the Khan Emperorship. It had been known to influence Asia and Europe in a number of ways (Morgan and Amitai-Preiss 260). One example that can be sited related to the said point is the role that the Mongols played in the creation of a unified China. Through the rule of the Mongol Empire, the Ming Dynasty was able to unite China, a system that remained strong even in the present era. In addition, China was able to open up to the world which benefited the nation in the different aspects of the society (Burgan 116). Thus, without the help of the Mongols, China’s present influence in the world especially in terms of trade would be in question. This was based on the fact that one legacy of the Mongols was the establishment of the Chinese nation after the earliest form of government of China failed but rebuilt by the Mongols (Morgan and Amitai-Preiss 260). The Ming Dynasty was the main government established under the khan-emperorship which can be considered as a stronger leadership influenced by the Mongol Empire as compared to the old Sung Dynasty (p.264). Another legacy of the Mongols was related to the reign of the Central Asian Empire in Russia. During the peak of the Mongol Empire, the Mongols were very present in Russia specifically through the Golden Horde. This assistance resulted to the rise of power of the princes in Moscow who were able to create their own empire (Burgan 116). Based on the said contribution it can be considered that the Mongols employed a type of leadership that strengthens the nations within its empire during the reign of the Mongol Empire. The Mongols played an important role in the Turkish migration on the basis of the provision of political and economic foundations for the Turkish culture. Through the nomadic expertise of the Mongols and the inclusion of the groups who were speaking Turkic, the traditions of the Turkic groups were moved from one end of the Asian region to another. Although the Mongols were considered nomadic, by carrying the Turkic groups to the west Asia, the influence of the Mongol Empire had been strengthened. This can be attributed to the fact that the western Asia and the Eastern Europe recognized the migrants as part of the empire. The said phenomenon was referred to as the process of Turkicization (Morgan and Amitai-Preiss 201). Another important contribution of the Mongols in history was the growth of the different elements of the society including language and religion. Unlike other strong and influential empires that ruled in different points in history, the Mongol Empire ruled with openness on the growth and continuity of the society under its empire. One example was the language in Persia as promoted by the Ilkhans which replaced the Arabic in being the main language of the nation during the rule of the empire. In addition, the Mongol Empire did not hinder the growth of Roman Catholicism which had a strong influence in the eastern part of Asia. Another religion that grew during the area and became one of the most prevalent religions is Buddhism. Without the tolerance of the Mongols on these religions, there was a possibility of affecting the growth of such religions. Aside from Roman Catholicism and Buddhism, Islam was another religion accepted by the empire. Through the reign of the Mongols, Islam grew in Central Asia (Burgan 116). The strong connection between Europe and Asia was another contribution of the Mongols. Due to the support given by the empire to the development of the different nations and cultures, connections and interactions were encouraged and were established. Europeans became more interested in the culture of people in Asia. The voyages initiated by the people in the European region became one of the initial steps towards the discovery of the different cultures around the world. For example the spices of the Far East and the land trade in the Central Asia. The voyages undertaken by Christopher Columbus resulted to the discovery of the North and South America, referred to as the New Worlds. The said explorations had been fueled by the knowledge gathered during the reign of the Mongols (Burgan 118). The legacy of the Mongols is based on one important point. The influence of the empire that had been established was based on the fact that the Mongols are nomadic. They carry information, products and other components of the different cultures that they came across with their movement from one place to another. The Mongol Empire had been known then as the nomadic empire with the capability to ‘challenge the sedentary societies’ in terms of power and influence. Based on the gathered information, the Europeans during the 13th century were considered weaker as compared to the forces of the Mongols. It had been assumed that if the Mongols were able to pursue the journey to Europe, the empire would be stronger than ever. But due to the death of the leader, the said march to the European region did not push through (Burgan 118). The Mongols also became tools of trade benefiting different aspects of the society such as agriculture. This made the exchange of practices, ideas and products possible between the East and the West. During the reign of the Mongol Empire, there was a boost of agricultural crops such as cotton. Trade between China and Iran was an established activity. The influence of Mongols in the Eurasian and Chinese agriculture and farming was one of their most important contributions (Lane 92). The strength of the Mongols can be attributed to the power of military arms that they posses. As early as the 13th century, the Mongol Army had the capability to fight while riding horses. In addition, the soldiers used weapons such as bows to conquer the empire’s subjects. The said style of fighting which had been created by Genghis Khan was referred to as a combination of cavalry and siege warfare. The Mongol culture was largely recognized due to the skills of the people in horseback riding and archery because the training for the said skills defined even the childhood of the people (Burgan 24). Producing a leader such as Genghis Khan is another legacy of the Mongols. He was born during the reign of Temujin and united the Mongol tribes (Lane 29). In 1206, he was elected as the leader of the Temujin and conquered the world until his death in 1227 (Burgan 120). The power of the Temujin has been clearly known though his reign. It resulted to the establishment of the ‘largest contiguous land empire’ in world history. He became Chinggis Khan, a name that resounded world conqueror. He was feared as a leader due to his capability to get his goals of conquest regardless of other factors. His success can be attributed to the military techniques and policies that he used for his leadership (Lane 29). His legacy as a powerful leader with the most significant part in the establishment of the Mongol Empire is an important evidence of the capability of the Mongols. Aside from the positive aspects of the legacy of the Mongols, there were negative points they were known for. The Mongols were known great fighters in world history. This can be attributed to the military strategy and art of warfare that they had contributed to the world. But as a result, the Mongols contributed significantly to the ‘annals of horror’ in world history due to the manner they conquered lands and achieved their goals (Lane 92). The legacy of the Mongols in the past historical works denoted plunder and negativity on the basis of the brute manner of conquest commonly equated to the nomadic cultures through human history. But the modern writers achieved a new level of openness that established another school of thought that recognized the manner of the conquest of the Mongols as propaganda. Through the advertizing of the terror brought about by the empire, made the conquest more effective. This can then be considered as one of the reasons for the rapid growth of the Mongol Empire and its influence (Lane 92-97). Discussion The study of the legacy of the Mongols is one of the most significant ways of understanding the development of the different cultures and nations in the early part of history. Prior to the establishment of the Mongol Empire, the different nations of the world occurred as independent groups with unique traditions and cultures. In one perspective the Mongols were the pioneers in terms of connecting the different countries in the world. While staying true to the ways of the nomads and the pastoral society, the Mongols were able to establish an unprecedented relationship with the sedentary structure of society of the adjacent nations. Through the said process, the legacy of the Mongols can be analyzed to be deeply rooted on the form of society and the political policies that they utilized along the way (Lane 97). The legacy of the Mongols can be defined in a variety of aspects where they made a marked contribution. One was carrying different cultures across the world, thus, the concept of international relations had been initiated. Through the process, there said cultures were enriched and strengthened. Another is the establishment of the different nations and empires such as China and Russia. The military prowess of the Mongols in bows and horses is also another way of defining their legacy. It can be considered that the Mongols made numerous contributions to the human history that changed the world for the better. These contributions were recognized more than the terror that the reign of the Mongol Empire brought to the 13th century. The terror and violence associated with the conquest were recognized by historians as an effective method for the Mongols to reign. Conclusion The legacy of the Mongols can then be concluded as the contributions of the nation in the successful and influential reign though era when the Mongol Empire affected the lives of every member of the population either positively or negatively. These contributions cannot be neglected and deleted in the annals of history since the effects and outcomes shaped the present society. In conclusion, the Mongols created the one of the most massive and influential empires in human history through nomadic ways, a feat that can never be compared to any other through history. Work Cited Burgan, Michael. Empire of the Mongols. Infobase Publishing, 2005. Lane, George. Genghis Khan and Mongol Rule. Hackett Publishing, 2009. Morgan, David and Reuven Amitai-Preiss. The Mongol Empire and Its Legacy. Brill, 2000. Read More