Thursday, January 16, 2014

The Good and Bad Aspects of the Mongol Empire by CHARLOTTE TAUSS


I am travelling with my uncle Maffeo and my father Nicolo. They aren't surprised at all by the things and people we see here. I know they have been here several times before, but some things are just so strange that I can't help to wonder how they manage not to stop and stare. I've been talking to Mongols every chance I get. I've learned a lot about their culture in very little time. From what I can tell they are very peaceful and kind, but I am still weary because of all the stories I've heard on my way here. It is said that the Mongol army obliterated the city of Urgench, apparently horses couldn't even graze there for years after. Also I have heard that even though they are surprisingly tolerant of other religions, their own beliefs are strange at best. They believe in a god of the sky and evil spirits that mess with their people's lives. This religion doesn't even play a major role in their lives. They hardly ever worship to this sky god, in fact the evil spirits are more involved with these people than this so called god. The Mongols are also extremely superstitious. They read fortunes by throwing sheep bones in a fire and watching the cracks that form. Coming from the Catholic church this is very new for me. I have met people of other religions, but none so loose without many regulations or guidelines on how to live. Which I guess makes sense because these people have no problem with slaughtering thousands of innocents. I have also encountered what they call paper money. I can understand the convenience of this, being a foreign traveler, but I don't see how paper is worth the same amounts as gold. I have also heard many horrifying stories about the great Genghis Kahn. The Mongols tell them to me with smiles on their faces, where as I can barely hold down my breakfast when I hear them. Genghis was a power hungry murderer. He would do things just to use them as an excuse to go to war. One time he sent some men to ask Un-khan for his daughters hand in marriage, knowing he would refuse. When Un-khan refused as predicted, Genghis sent thousands of men to his city and wiped it out killing everyone in it. From what I've heard so far on this trip, I'm very apprehensive about going to meet Kublai Khan.

Now that I have seen and experienced the Mongol empire first hand, I have realized that these accounts of savagery are true, but in times of peace these people are hospitable and friendly. The Mongols dance and sing to drums, fiddles, and guitars. The craftsmanship of these instruments is not as good as what you might find in Venice, but they make good music. The Mongols have also introduced me to kumiss, which is their favorite drink. Often times they just sit on the floor and drink bottle after bottle! I have enjoyed my stay thus far, and although I was apprehensive of meeting Kublai Khan, I now know what a great man he is. I feel that he trusts me because he sends me on important trips and jobs. Now he lets me travel to where ever I want! I also greatly admire the Mongol women, they know how to make things last! I've seen them make butter that never sours, dry buttermilk so it never goes bad, and beat sheep's fur into felt. The women also know how to hunt and fight, although this hardly ever happens, if necessary they could ride into war with the men. I'm very impressed with the capitol of the Mongol Empire. The streets are so wide and straight! It is so easy to navigate and move around the city this way. In Europe the streets are windy and narrow, so this was quite a pleasant surprise for me when I first arrived. I visited Kublai Khan's summer palace a couple months ago, and I can't even begin to describe it. It was the most grand and elaborate palace I've ever seen. Kublai Khan uses this particular palace for hunting. He actually has tame cheetahs that act as hunting dogs, they were tame, but still they frightened me a little. Through my travels, I have been able to visit some cities that fell to the might of the Mongols, and they actually seem very content with living under Mongol rule. There is a governor in each city to oversee affairs, but they do not tax the people too harshly, or prevent them from practicing their own religion or aspects of their culture. While writing back home to my mother, I've been informed that things custom to the Mongol Empire have spread back home to Europe. My mother has written about gunpowder and porcelain, both of which were foreign to me until I arrived here. Kublai Khan does such a good job opening up trade that so many things have spread from here back to Europe, and the other way around. I definitely misjudged the Mongols, they may be ruthless, but there are so many great aspects of their empire it's hard not to admire them.

I think that overall the Mongols had a more positive than negative effect on history. They increased trade by making the empire extremely safe for merchants and travelers. This increase in trade spread ideas, products, and much more. The good relationship between the Ilkhans who ruled the Middle East and the Great Khans who ruled over China caused the two civilizations to influence each other through trade. Chinese food and medicine were both heavily influenced by Middle Eastern customs, and Chinese paintings styles are found in Persian paintings. The Mongols made this type of cultural diffusion possible, and civilizations learning from each other to improve their cultures is always good. After the cities were conquered, the Mongols were actually very nice to them. They didn't force any of their beliefs or customs on to those people, just like the Romans. As the Roman Empire expanded they gave citizenship and special benefits to the cities that were close to Rome. The Mongols also gave out benefits to certain cities, and like the Romans they did not tax the people too heavily. Both empires expanded very quickly often through war, and they both were very kind to the cities after they became part of the empire. Also, these empires revolutionized warfare. The Mongols were vicious, but very organized. The troops were all categorized and broken down into big groups then smaller and smaller groups just like the Roman armies. The Romans were also fierce warriors and they were even more organized than the Mongols. Both empires made a lasting impression on the world for the most part, what they left behind was good.

Works Cited:

Rugoff, Milton. Marco Polo's Adventures in China. New York: American Heritage Pub.; Book Trade and Institutional Distribution by Harper & Row, 1964. Print.

Yule, Henry. The Book of Ser Marco Polo the Venetian. Vol. II. London: John Murray, 1903. N. pag. Marco Polo Travels in China. Web. <http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts/marcopolo.html>.


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