Instances of Genghis Khan Establishing Changes

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Genghis Khan was not only just a fierce warrior and a grand leader of the Mongols, he also understood how important it to use innovative military strategy to avoid losing battles.  He changed societal laws that benefited him in helping him to become known as one of the greatest ruler ever lived.

Genghis Khan constantly found ways to improve his military organization.  It was doubled to serve as a fast-moving, flexible political bureaucracy.  After taking control of tribes that were his long-time rivals, he would break them up.  That led the tribes to evolve into ethnically homogeneous and became loyal to him.  When the Mongols were warring with the Jurchen (Jin) dynasty, their diet helped them achieved victory.  While the Jurchen soldiers ate grains, the Mongols had the ability to skip a day or two of eating because they ate a lot of meat, milk, and yogurt.

Changing Tribal Laws

Genghis Khan created a body of law that he never stopped working during his whole life. Kidnapping women were common occurrences as the Mongols never stopped feuding.  Even his wife, Borte, was kidnapped when he was only a teenager.  He was able to rescue her after consuming a lot of of his time to do so and getting help for his cause.  He eventually made it unlawful to both kidnap a woman and to sell any woman into marriage.  Furthermore, he declared all children to be treated with respect, no matter who is the mother.

One particular reason the Mongols distrust each other was the plethora of stealing animals.  One behemoth change that Genghis Khan did to discontinue it was making the act of stealing animals a capital offense.  The owner got to have any stolen animal returned.

During the winter, the Mongols normally go out to hunt animals.  Nevertheless, Genghis Khan regulated the activity to help everyone get some meat to eat.  Other administrative changes he made were introducing record keeping and created official seals.  I’m not sure what is meant when stating that he “took advantage of his move years before to have his native language placed into writing.”

Treatment of Enemies

In regards to both law and order and punishment for crimes committed, the Mongols didn’t maim, mutilate, or torture their enemies.  Past European rulers always attempted to provoke fear and make potential enemies feel hopeless about their situations by torturing ones that would provide prime examples to the subjugates.  In Europe, there are accounts of individuals being victims of belly cutting, emasculation, filthy displays of stitching, and hacking to pieces.  The Mongols just rather slaughter people with a preference to do it from a long distance.  There’s a story involving Genghis Khan’s son-in-law.  His daughter’s husband was killed while the city of Nishapur revolted against being rules by Mongols.  Therefore, she asked that everyone in the city to be killed, which they unfortunately were.

Officer of the Law

Genghis formed an official who was known as a supreme officer of the law.  The duties were to collect and preserve all judicial decisions and to scrutinize the trials of all those charged with wrongdoings.  That same officer had the authority to issue capital punishment whenever it was deemed suitable.  Lastly, he created order in the Mongols rule that strengthened it and had ability to aggrandize it.

Grand-size Empire

After Genghis Khan had control over all territories between Beijing and the Caspian Sea, he was elated to the idea of Mongols being capable of making caravan trades and drawing tribute from agricultural societies in the west and east.  Due to the vast land in between the eastern-most territory to the westernmost in continental Asia, he smartly created an efficient pony express system.  His empire also let the civilians practice any religion as they wish so there won’t be any tensions arise from it.  Finally, Genghis felt the people under his rule would be benefited from order and thrive from collecting taxes; thus, he outlawed local officials and soldiers to abuse people.

If the tribes that collectively became the Mongols weren’t united by Genghis Khan, they may have continued to be at war with each other for years.  He set out to make drastic changes that would seem heavily favor common men.  His empire wouldn’t be big as it was if he forgo learning to form diplomatic relations.

Resources About Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan and the Great Mongol Empire

Genghis Khan (1165 – 1227)

Ancient China:  The Mongolian Empire:  The Yuan

Cultural China, Genghis Khan

The Mongols in World History

Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History:  The Legacy of Genghis Khan

The Houston Museum of Natural Science:  Genghis Khan

Resource by S.Lee

I like to read, write, draw, paint, and use computers.

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