Organization of the Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan

Main article: Genghis Khan

Main article: Society of the Mongol Empire

Politics

Pax Mongolica

Main article: Pax Mongolica

Coined as a parallel to Pax Romana, the Pax Mongolica (Latin for "Peace of the Mongols") is a term used to describe the phenomena during the 13th and 14th centuries where trade from China to Europe was not only possible, but common and free from profound interference. Although the word "peace" might not be the best word to describe the Mongol administration and governance during the brief era,^[1] the Pax Mongolica was a time of relative peace throughout the Old World which led to an increase of trade, as well as an increase in awareness, between distant nations. In essence, the Mongol Empire administered political order over a very large area of land which enabled relative political and economic stability to follow.

Loyalty

In the face of the ethnic, religious and tribal diversity of the civilians and soldiers of the Mongol Empire, which eventually included modern day Persians, Chinese and many Turkic peoples, Genghis Khan insisted on focusing all loyalty on himself as Great Khan and no others. Thus, Genghis Khan had no room for the traditional clan- and kindred-based divisions that were common in central Asian society. Obedience was expected from everyone from the lowest to the highest classes. Any disobedience by a subordinate officer to any order from a superior officer was reason for death.

Genghis Khan revolutionized his military by incorporating the decimal system in his army. He arranged his army into arbans (inter-ethnic groups of ten), and the members of an arban were commanded to be loyal to one-another regardless of ethnic origin.^[2] Ten arbans made a zuun, or a company; ten zuuns made a myangan, or a battalion; and ten myangans formed a tumen, or an army of 10,000. This decimal system organization of Genghis Khan's strong military proved very effective in conquering, by persuasion or force, the many tribes of the central Asian steppe, but it also strengthened Mongol society as a whole.

Yassa

Main article: Yassa

Genghis Khan had a Mongol code of law called the Yassa written down, which was intended to be the legal code throughout his empire. It covered in detail many aspects of nomadic life and the concerns of nomadic people. Stealing livestock was harshly punished, as was urinating or otherwise spoiling a source of fresh water; spying, treason, desertion, theft, and adultery, and persistent bankruptcy in the case of merchants were all punishable by execution.^[3] Religious freedom was allowed, as long as one complied with the Yassa.

Genghis Khan created a wide-ranging postal system for the sending of government orders and reports. For many years he was believed to be illiterate due to the estimated recentness of the language, and his age at its implementation. Recently, however, it has been claimed by an Inner Mongolian academic that Genghis Khan was a highly literate man. A handwritten note has been claimed to be his, and the contents of the note indicated that the author was able to read Taoist sermons [1].

Meritocracy

Genghis Khan preferred to rule through existing hierarchies, but where he was resisted he destroyed the existing aristocracy, although among the Mongols he created a rough meritocracy during that time. Positions of honour were given on the basis of bravery in battle or outstanding loyalty, as opposed to the old system of inheritance through families. This was far ahead of any other system in Europe at the time.

Freedom of Religion

Various languages spread, such as Turkish, replacing long-established Persian-speaking populations who were mostly wiped out. Many different kinds of religion existed under a limited degree of freedom of religion. However, in later life, Genghis began to research the various religions of the people he had suppressed. Theories differ as to why. The outcome was a general freedom of religion, and an exemption of taxes for priests.

Economy

Trade

Having conquered a vast land, Genghis Khan and his successors encouraged trade and exchange.^[4] Mongols valued goods that came from other lands and peoples because they themselves produced very little of value.^[5] A unified Mongol Empire made travel across Asia far easier for Europeans than it had been under a fractured group of minor kings, facilitating greater exposure to the West and travel for Western traders such as Marco Polo. Because of the extent of his empire, Genghis Khan deeply affected the cultures of many Asian countries, most notably Russia.

References

1. ^ See for example D. Morgan, "If the concept is derived from the Pax Romana, the most appropriate comment belongs rightly to a Roman historian, Tacitus, speaking through the mouth of a British chieftain: 'Solitudinem faciunt, et pacem appellant'--'they make a desolation, and call it peace.'" David Morgan. The Mongols, second edition.Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 2007. Print. p.73
2. ^ Amy Chua. Day of Empire: How hyperpowers rise to global dominance, and why they fall. New York: Random House, 2007. p.95
3. ^ George Lane. Genghis Khan and Mongol Rule. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2004. Print. p.37
4. ^ Jack Weatherford. Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2004.
5. ^ Janet Abu-Lughod. Before European Hegemony: The World System A.D. 1250-1350. New York: OUP, 1989. Print.