throw light on the social political and military of mongols Related: ...
The Mongols were one of the most significant and powerful empires in world history. The social, political, and military aspects of their empire were intricately intertwined, making them a formidable force on the global stage.
Social Structure:
- The Mongols were a nomadic people who lived in tribes and clans.
- Their social structure was hierarchical, with the Khans at the top, followed by the nobles, soldiers, and commoners.
- Women had more freedom and power than in many other societies at that time, as they were responsible for managing their households and could inherit property.
Political Structure:
- The Mongol Empire was founded by Genghis Khan in the early 13th century.
- The empire was divided into four khanates, each ruled by a different Khan.
- The Khans had absolute power and controlled all aspects of society, including the military and economy.
- The empire was governed through a system of taxation and tribute, and each khanate was responsible for collecting taxes from its subjects.
Military Structure:
- The Mongol military was a highly organized and disciplined force.
- They were skilled horsemen and archers, and their tactics were based on speed, mobility, and surprise.
- The Mongols were known for their use of siege warfare and their ability to adapt to different terrain and environments.
- Their military conquests allowed them to expand their empire across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Overall, the social, political, and military aspects of the Mongol Empire were closely interconnected, and their success was due to a combination of leadership, organization, and military prowess. Despite their brutal conquests, the Mongols also made significant contributions to world history, including the spread of ideas, technologies, and cultural exchange.
throw light on the social political and military of mongols Related: ...
The Mongol army was composed of diverse people; like Turkic Uighurs, Kereyits and many other nomadic societies. The Mongol army was organized according to the old steppe system of decimal units. The army was divided into Arbans (10 people), Zuuns (100), Minghhans (1000) and tumens (10000). Genghis Khan stopped the practice of including the clan and the tribe within the same decimal units. He divided the old tribal groupings and distributed their members into new military units. Any person who tried to move from his/her allotted group without permission received harsh punishment. This altered the old steppe social order and gave the army a new identity. The new military contingents were required to serve under his four sons and specially chosen captains of his army units called noyan. People who had served Genghis Khan loyally through grave adversity for many years were given special status. Some of them were honored as ‘bloodbrothers’ (anda), and some others were given special rank of bondsmen (naukar). This new ranking demolished the rights of the old clan chieftains, and a new aristocracy emerged.
Division of Power: Genghis Khan gave the responsibility of newly conquered territories to his four sons. The four territories were called ulus; where boundaries were still fluid. The eldest son, Jochi received the Russian steppes. The second son, Chaghatai got the Transoxanian steppe and lands north of the Pamir mountains. The third son, Ogodei established his capital at Karakorum, and was to succeed the Great Khan. The youngest son, Toluy, got the ancestral lands of Mongolia. Genghis Khan envisaged that his sons would rule the empire collectively.
Rapid Courier System: Genghis Khan had developed a rapid courier system that connected the distant areas of his regime. Fresh mounts and dispatch riders were placed in outposts at regularly spaced distances. For the maintenance of this communication system the Mongol nomads contributed a tenth of their herd – either horses or livestock – as provisions. This was called the qubcur tax. The courier system (yam) was further refined after Genghis Khan’s death and its speed and reliability surprised travelers.
During the hegemony of the Mongol Empire, Europe and China were territorially linked, and trade connections matured. Now the trade routes did not terminate in China. They continued north into Mongolia and to Karakorum, the heart of the new empire. Travelers were given a pass (paiza in Persian; gerege in Mongolian) for safe conduct. Traders paid the baj tax for the same purpose, all acknowledging thereby the authority of the Mongol Khan.
Better Relations Between Nomadic and Sedentary Elements: The contradictions between the nomadic and sedentary elements within the Mongol empire eased through the thirteenth century. Unlike his predecessors, Qubilai Khan (grandson of Genghis Khan) appeared as the protector of the peasants and the cities. Similarly, in the 1290s, the Mongol ruler of Iran, Ghazan Khan (a descendant of Genghis Khan’s youngest son Toluy) warned family members and other generals to avoid pillaging the peasantry. Even during Genghis Khan’s reign, the Mongols had recruited civil administrators from the conquered societies. They were sometimes moved around: Chinese secretaries deployed in Iran and Persians in China. They helped in integrating the distant dominions. The Mongol Khans trusted them as long as they continued to raise revenue for their masters and these administrators could sometimes command considerable influence
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