James Baquet

In any “top 10” list of wars and campaigns, you’re likely to find the Mongol conquests of the 13th century. At one time they held sway over most of the Eurasian continent, a mighty feat considering their humble beginnings as borderland nomadic herders of sheep, goats, camels, yaks and horses.

But this, of course, was one of the keys to their success. Compared to the more settled peoples, they were excellent horsemen used to living outdoors. This enabled them to cover vast distances with few creature comforts, an essential part of campaigning.

The Mongol Empire itself began with the conquests — some call them the “devastations” — of Genghis Khan, the Empire’s first “Great Khan.” What he began became after his death the largest contiguous empire in history.

Why are the conquests characterized as “devastations?” Mongol armies killed millions of men, women and children in hundreds of cities and villages. Estimates claim these hordes killed up to 5 percent of the world’s population at that time. They also likely brought with them — in the fleas of their animals — the bubonic plague, the so-called “Black Death” of the 14th century, which itself is estimated to have killed 30 percent to 60 percent of the population of Europe.

Starting in their homeland, today’s country of Mongolia and China’s Inner Mongolia, the Mongol Empire at its greatest extent (in 1279) stretched from eastern and central Europe to the Sea of Japan. It reached north into Siberia, east and south into India and Southeast Asia, and west through the Middle East into the Carpathian Mountains.

It was not all death and destruction, however. The period has been described (using a term originally applied to Rome) as the “Pax Mongolica” or “Peace of the Mongols.” Under their unifying control, trade flourished along the Silk Road; efficient roads were built; an effective horseback postal system was established; and strict social regulations were enforced.

Religious repression, political squabbling between Genghis’ descendants and social unrest led to the empire’s decline.

Vocabulary:

Which words above mean:

1. large, hairy, cow-like animals

2. acts of destruction

3. means of delivering messages

4. bordering, not separated

5. wandering from place to place

6. accomplishment

7. good things in life, such as good food, warmth, hot water, etc.

8. low in status

9. including both the European and the Asian continents

10. conducting military operations