Mongols Dbq Analysis

Were the Mongols as heinous as historians make them out to be? The mongols began as a small tribe in Central Asia that expanded their rule tremendously. They established the largest connected empire in all of the world’s history. In this Data Based Question, there is examples of how the Mongols exemplify leadership but mostly savagery.

The Mongols had an impressive army that conquered many countries and displayed their powerful. John of Plano Carpini states, “Genghis Khan ordained that the army should be organized in a way that over ten men should beset one man and he is what we call a captain of ten;”(Document 2). This gives a great example of how Khan’s army thought out battle strategies and used logical reasoning when at war. John also said, “When they are in battle, if one or two or three or even more out of a group of ten run away, all are put to

“Whosoever commits adultery will be executed, whether or not they have previous convictions”, Ratchnevsky also states (Document 10). This in particular seems illogical because what would justify someone lose their life due to cheating. Paul Ratchnevsky said “ If an Unbeliever(i.e. a Mongol) desires a married woman he will kill the husband and then have relations with the woman” (Document 10). Based on the evidence it seems as if the Mongols were barbaric and viewed women as property. Lastly the Mongols performed vicious practices that were fatal and inhumane. In Document 5 a picture depicts five people being buried alive and another man being shot with arrows while tied to a tree. No matter what these people may have done their actions don’t warrant such savage inhumane death. “Genghis Khan rooted out...adultery and theft...these could be left unattended because of the severity of (Mongol) laws against theft”(Document 7). The population under Genghis Khan’s rule shouldn’t have to live in fear of harsh or fatal punishments due to doing petty