LESSON 10.6 How did the Mongols conquer the world?
LEARNING INTENTION By the end of this lesson you should be able to describe what aspects of the Mongols’ military made them a force to be reckoned with, and the tools that Genghis Khan used — both military and diplomatic — to keep his army in line and on the same page.
Tune in Mongol riders could turn and shoot arrows from their composite bow with great accuracy and speed. The composite bow was made from combining a layer of sinew , wood and horn to create the frame.
SOURCE1 Mongolian archers take aim while riding horses, displaying the same skills as Genghis Khan’s warriors.
How would a group of warriors such as the one in SOURCE1 be an effective fighting force during this period? Compare them to non-mounted soldiers from other nations and discuss the differences.
10.6.1 Mongol soldiers Genghis Khan’s fierce army, made up of Mongol tribes, invaded China in 1211. Their swift horses allowed them to cover great distances quickly. Even in winter, when frozen lakes and rivers became their highways, the Mongols excelled in battle due to their exceptional discipline and toughness.
TABLE1 The common weapons and equipment carried by Mongol soldiers Weapon/equipment Description Lance
Fitted with a hook for pulling enemies from horses Sword for combat, dagger strapped to the arm One for horseback, one heavy bow for foot use
Curved sword and dagger
Twobows
Shield, iron helmet and leather armour
Armour waterproofed with lacquer
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator