Have you ever heard the phrase, “Know your enemy”? This saying is based on an excerpt from the famous Chinese book, The Art of War, by Sun Tzu. Nearly 2,000 years after the book’s writing, the Mongol Empire would prove the value of knowing your strengths and learning from your foes.
Under their leader, Genghis Khan, the Mongol Empire was made up of many unified nomadic tribes. The army units ranged from as small as 10 to as large as 10,000. The Mongols adapted skills from their enemies in warfare, diplomacy, and espionage to meet different challenges.
MOST WARRIORS WERE MEN BUT THERE IS EVIDENCE OF WOMEN WARRIORS. BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS WERE TAUGHT HOW TO RIDE HORSES AND USE A BOW AND ARROW.
Mounted on horses, the Mongol soldiers were known to be ruthless. Tales of their destruction convinced many to surrender quickly. The warriors used a composite bow made of wood, horn, and sinew that could shoot an arrow up to 350 yards.
A typical soldier would carry at least two bows and had three to five horses, and being able to ride on horseback with a bow and arrow gave them an advantage over their enemies. As the Mongol Empire’s conquests grew, they adapted siege techniques like catapults and trebuchets.
THE MONGOLS DEVELOPED A POSTAL SYSTEM, CALLED YAM, TO SEND MESSAGES QUICKLY WHILE THE ARMIES WERE ON THE MOVE.
While it is believed that most troops did not wear heavy armor, such as chainmail, they would have possibly protected themselves with leather, woolen layers, and sometimes metal plating. This is because troops needed to be able to move swiftly. Today, we can see artifacts of some of these pieces, including conical helmets made of iron and wool.
The Mongol Empire’s ability to adapt to the challenges they faced, while also relying on what set them apart, aided in creating one of the most powerful armies in history.