Year 12 IB Extended Essays 2017

gjy664 – Chinggis Khan and the Mongol Empire

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2 – Unity and Loyalty

Under Chinggis Khan’s influence there was strong emphasis on loyalty and unity, diverging

from the traditional tribal society, which enabled control and growth of the empire. Hence, one

of Chinggis’ key leadership abilities was his ability to unify people over a vast area. Mongol

unity brought together disparate tribes into one confederation with loyalty placed in Chinggis.

This was a major accomplishment for a vast country, where the title ‘Chinggis Khan’ was an

acknowledgement of Mongol leadership and loyalty, mirroring the success of Chinggis’ unification of the country. 33 Moreover, unification was beneficial within the Mongol society as it enabled active trade with the ‘network of spies, traders and informers’, 34 referred to in the Secret History . Unification also enabled the merging of Mongol culture with local traditions – beneficial for growth and adaption. 35 The immense control Chinggis had can be seen in the Secret History where Chinggis’ followers claimed that they would be ‘deprived of [their] goods and belongings’ if they disobeyed him. 36

During this time, the Mongol society transformed significantly with the extermination of clan

nobility. Thus, as the empire’s power grew through unifcation, the tribal society was replaced by a feudal structure, 37 and leadership through Khan’s formed. 38 Consequently, Chinggis united all nomads including those in China, ensuring total control. Thus, there was an interplay of diplomacy, alliances and warfare. 39 Whilst, historians claim that Mongol military tactics

enabled Mongol success, the Secret History counters this, developing the idea that ‘iron

discipline and matchless speed’ was not the only reason for Mongol success. Instead, foreign

collaboration was important, seen by the empire’s growth, in which the number of Turks in

Mongol armies outnumbered the Mongols. Moreover, as accounted in the Secret History, the

1206 gathering of Mongol nobles marked the unification of Mongol tribes and birth of the Mongol army– the first step towards new order, 40 with expansionist ambitions.

33 “The Mongols in World History,” Morris Rossabi, Asian Topics in World History Columbia University , last modified 2004, http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/. 34 Rachewiltz, The Secret History , 269. 35 “The Legacy of Genghis Khan,” Stefano Carboni and Adamjee Qamar. 36 Rachewiltz, The Secret History , 46. 37 “Genghis Khan Mongol Ruler,” Charles R Bawden. 38 Easton, Oxford Big Ideas , 423-455. 39 “The rise of Genghis Khan,” Lattimore, Sanders and Chauncy. 40 Onon, Secret History , 4.