The Mongol horse, short and sturdy, was key to the army’s success. These horses could survive harsh winters and needed minimal care. Each soldier had about five horses to ensure they could continue travelling while some horses rested. Mongol warriors were known to stay in the saddle for up to ten days, surviving on raw meat if necessary. Their reputation for discipline and strength spread fear across Asia and Europe. 10.6.2 Military structure and discipline Mobilising an army The Mongol tribal organisation developed military strength. Even in peacetime all able-bodied men between 15 and 60 years of age were under military orders, meaning that they could be called upon to fight. Promotion in the Mongol army was not related to high birth, but achieved as recognition for bravery and skill. The Mongol army was reformed and reorganised into a decimal system under Genghis Khan. It was composed of: • arban — a group of ten men from different Mongol clans, ordered to be loyal to each other regardless of clan connections
• zuun — a company, consisting of ten arban (100 soldiers) • myangan — a battalion, consisting of ten zuun (1000 soldiers) • tumen — an army, consisting of 10 myangan (10 000 soldiers).
The tribal links of the clan groups were broken up by the army structure to ensure old loyalties could not threaten Mongol unity. In battle, the close-knit and tightly drilled units used skills developed in the traditional Mongol hunt, encircling, trapping and then cutting the enemy to pieces. The use of couriers enabled the various sections of the Mongol armies to keep close contact with each other. Death and duty One of the key features of the Mongol army was strict discipline, called Yassa. This meant following rules for every situation and having penalties for all crimes. Genghis Khan, who couldn’t read or write because Mongol society didn’t have literacy , adapted the Uyghur script to have these rules written down. During wartime, desertion, failing to rescue captured friends, plundering without permission, sleeping on duty, fighting with other groups in the army, and showing unnecessary kindness to captives were all punishable by death. SOURCE2 Genghis Khan declared in the Yassa that, ‘If the military leaders, and the leaders of the many descendants of the ruler who will be born in the future, should not adhere strictly to the Yassa, then the power of the state shall be shattered and come to an end.’ Although a complete list of the laws has never been found, it is believed that they covered all aspects of public and private life. The Yassa was of particular importance to the discipline and structure of the army. • The army will stay organised in groups of ten, one hundred, one thousand, and ten thousand. This helps raise an army quickly and keeps command clear. • Before a campaign starts, soldiers must get their weapons from their officer, keep them in good condition, and have them checked before battle. • No one can take anything from the enemy unless the general allows it. After permission is given, soldiers can keep what they take if they pay a share to the khan’s representative. • Soldiers will practise skills in a big winter hunt. No one can hunt deer, hares or some kinds of bird from March to October.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator