The Significance Of The Mongol Expansion over Europe

The Mongol empire was the largest contiguous empire in history and was very successful. This was due to the leadership of Genghis Khan, the Mongol army, and their nomadic culture. They introduced new concepts, technologies and ways of life to the world.

Part of the Mongol’s key to success was their culture and ways of life. One example was their religious freedom. They were mainly Shanism, but if you were a civilian, you had the freedom to decide what religion you could be. The Mongols also believed in Shaman, who were spirits between gods, and people on earth. Genghis Khan came up with this idea of religious freedom, so the religions of the places that the Mongol empire conquered are still in existence. This was a significant part of the Mongol expansion because it meant the people living in the places where the Mongols conquered did not have to change their religion. Another reason why the Mongol empire was so successful was their military skills. Genghis Khan made sure that his empire had a strong military. He sacrificed cultural arts and customs. This meant he had a strong military which was the first to use a composite bow. The Mongol’s military was an achievement because it meant that they could put up a fight to conquer new places. These customs of the Mongols were all contributing factors to the Mongol expansions success.

Another reason why the Mongols were so significant were their laws and economy and laws. One example of a Mongolian law is that you cannot be emperor unless you have been previously elected by the princes, khans, officers and other Mongol nobles. Laws like this helped keep the traditional Mongolian culture in place. The law did this by making it much harder to get a new Emperor. Old Mongolian laws are proven by the Persian chroniclers and Fras Rubruquis and Carpini. Mongolian economy also helped them to be successful in their expansion. Genghis Kahn supported ‘peasant economy’ by having stable taxes and having freedom of taxes. This let them trade more, which helped them be nomadic, which let them expand their empire because they could move to more places. The Mongols also had policies in place which helped them be a more military-based culture than a culturally-based. This meant they would be prepared if they had to fight to conquer people’s land. This is all proven by the fact that the Mongols were always were ready for a battle, and by the Yassa, was the forty millenary oral law code of the Mongols. These laws all contribute to the Mongol expansions success.

A major point which proves the Mongol’s significance is that the Mongols are still remembered today for three main reasons. The first reason is that they had the largest contiguous empire the world has ever seen. The second is that the Mongols helped spread the bubonic plague/black death via the silk road. This was significant for a bad reason. It spread quickly, eventually killing more than fifty million people. The third reason, the Mongols were non-misogynistic. They did not treat women equally but did give women rights. Women were in charge of making and repairing things, and sometimes even participating in men’s activities such as shooting, trading and hunting. This is proven by Genghis Khan’s son’s wife. She took over the household when her husband died. This meant she had to do all the men’s work. This shows the importance of women in Mongol societies. All these three points are big reasons why Mongols are remembered today and why they were a significant empire.

The Mongols were a very successful and significant empire in history. This is because of their religious policies, culture, laws, taxes, their spreading of the bubonic plague, the way they treated women and the fact that they were the largest contiguous empire known. This is what made them a great empire.