Mongol war tactics, Mongol war tactics, weapons, and conquest in weapons, and conquest in

the 13the 13thth century century

A Children’s story by: A Children’s story by: McKenzie SoutherMcKenzie Souther

Once upon a time, Once upon a time, there was an there was an Asian leader Asian leader

named Genghis named Genghis Khan. He was a Khan. He was a very greedy man very greedy man who wanted more who wanted more power and land power and land

for himself. for himself.

Bad

He assembled a huge army of soldiers He assembled a huge army of soldiers who were ordered to go to many who were ordered to go to many

countries like Russia, the Middle East countries like Russia, the Middle East and China and conquer as much land and China and conquer as much land

as possible. as possible.

Smaller cities and towns gave in easily Smaller cities and towns gave in easily because they did not have the because they did not have the

leadership of a strong empire to leadership of a strong empire to protect them. Despite this, protect them. Despite this, thousands of people were thousands of people were

slaughtered in the Mongol conquests. slaughtered in the Mongol conquests.

The soldiers were The soldiers were very brave men very brave men

and fantastic and fantastic warriors. They warriors. They

had many had many weapons and weapons and

strategies that strategies that helped them helped them gain so much gain so much

land. land.

They rode They rode everywhere on everywhere on horses. Each horses. Each

Mongol usually Mongol usually had to take had to take

care of three or care of three or four horses. four horses.

This let them go This let them go at full speed for at full speed for

many days many days without their without their

ponies getting ponies getting too tired. too tired.

The bow and arrow was commonly The bow and arrow was commonly used in battle. Six out of ten soldiers used in battle. Six out of ten soldiers

were horse archers, which means were horse archers, which means they shoot the enemy while riding. they shoot the enemy while riding. This let the Mongols kill as many of This let the Mongols kill as many of

the opposing side as possible. the opposing side as possible.

The portion of The portion of soldiers who were soldiers who were not archers were not archers were called lancers. called lancers.

They were also on They were also on horseback and horseback and

covered in covered in protective armor. protective armor. They carried long They carried long

lances, usually with lances, usually with a sharp end, and a sharp end, and used that to stab used that to stab

the opposing side. the opposing side.

Light calvary soldiers were called Light calvary soldiers were called keshik. They did not partake in as keshik. They did not partake in as much heavy battle. Instead, they much heavy battle. Instead, they

were the ones in charge of were the ones in charge of skirmishing and raiding. skirmishing and raiding.

Mongol soldiers were mostly just Mongol soldiers were mostly just regular people, like peasants or regular people, like peasants or

militia. There were a few knights and militia. There were a few knights and professional men at arms as well. professional men at arms as well. They tended to have more power. They tended to have more power.

These soldiers practiced fighting every These soldiers practiced fighting every chance they had to make sure they chance they had to make sure they were ready for enemy attack at any were ready for enemy attack at any

time. They focused on individual time. They focused on individual fighting like jousting and sometimes fighting like jousting and sometimes

group fighting methods. group fighting methods.

The Mongol soldiers were very loyal to The Mongol soldiers were very loyal to those in charge as well as each those in charge as well as each

other. This meant there was no need other. This meant there was no need for unnecessarily strict rules and for unnecessarily strict rules and

regulations.regulations.

Even though they were very loyal to Even though they were very loyal to each other and their leaders, there each other and their leaders, there was a very harsh punishment for was a very harsh punishment for

anyone who ran from danger in fear. anyone who ran from danger in fear. The soldier and the nine friends from The soldier and the nine friends from

his area of battle were killed. his area of battle were killed.

Gathering food was particularly interesting for these Gathering food was particularly interesting for these soldiers. They would all make a circle around a soldiers. They would all make a circle around a

group of animals and force them to the center, all group of animals and force them to the center, all while practicing war maneuvers. As the circle got while practicing war maneuvers. As the circle got

smaller, they waited for their leaders order to smaller, they waited for their leaders order to begin killing off the animals. This let them begin killing off the animals. This let them

practice war moves as well as get enough food practice war moves as well as get enough food for a feast!for a feast!

As you can see, Mongol soldiers As you can see, Mongol soldiers were very hard working, skilled were very hard working, skilled men. They are the only reason men. They are the only reason

Genghis Khan was able to Genghis Khan was able to conquer so much land. conquer so much land.

Without these soldiers, the Without these soldiers, the world today would be much world today would be much

different. different.

• "Mongol military tactics and organization." "Mongol military tactics and organization." WikipediaWikipedia. 21 November 2009 . Web. 21 Nov . 21 November 2009 . Web. 21 Nov 2009. 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_military_tact<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_military_tact

ics_and_organization>.ics_and_organization>. • "Mounted archery." "Mounted archery." WikipediaWikipedia. 20 November . 20 November

2009. Web. 21 Nov 2009. 2009. Web. 21 Nov 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_archer>. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_archer>.

• "Light cavalry." "Light cavalry." WikipediaWikipedia. 30 October 2009. Web. . 30 October 2009. Web. 21 Nov 2009. 21 Nov 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_cavalry>. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_cavalry>.