In Defence of Genghis Khan

If Genghis Khan were white and European, he would likely be hailed as one of the greatest men of all time, standing among the likes of Caesar and Alexander the Great. How about that for an opening line? Here at PRESC Tutoring, we don’t shy away from controversial topics. Censorship isn’t on our agenda. Yet today’s topic will undoubtedly raise a few eyebrows: how to defend one of the biggest mass murderers in history. Or rather, how to come out in absolute support and try to justify what he did. Let’s see how it goes.

Before we start, a caveat is needed: retrospective justice is the bane of modern historical analysis. It is both arrogant and ignorant to impose the so-called “morals” of today on past events or actors who either a) can’t defend themselves or b) would choose not to. The past is a different place, and we cannot, and should not, try to change it. With that in mind, let’s go back to the 12th century, to the steppes of Mongolia.

 

GENGHIS KHAN AT A GLANCE Born                         c.1162, as Temujin Became Khan            1206, uniting the Mongol tribes Died                         1227 Legacy                      Founder of the largest contiguous land empire in history

 

From Temujin to Genghis Khan

It is circa 1162, and a woman named Hoelun gives birth to a son who, legend has it, is born clutching a blood clot in his hand—a local omen of great terror to come. True or not, this young baby would make an indelible mark on the world, and his name still evokes fear today. His name was Temujin.

Life on the steppes of Mongolia was harsh. The tribe was everything, and not being part of one was essentially a death sentence. This was the fate that befell Temujin and his small family after his father, Yesügei, was poisoned by rival Tatars and his own clan then abandoned the family for political gain. Spared from actual execution, Temujin, his mother and his siblings were banished to life in the wilderness. Soon after, a fight broke out between Temujin and his elder half-brother, Begter, over a stolen fish. In a sign of the future ruthlessness for which he would become known, Temujin murdered his own brother as a warning never to betray the family. As months and years passed, Temujin and his family wandered the grasslands, gradually gathering other vagabonds and stray bandits to join their motley crew.

The Mongols had always been a disjointed people. Instead of uniting against the external threat of China, the various tribes could never put aside their feuds and blood quarrels to harness the power of a unified state. Temujin, now a young warrior, did just that. His clan, the Borjigin, defeated the Merkits, Tatars, Kereit and Naimans, and his message to all others was simple: join me and live, oppose me and die. In 1206, Temujin united the warring tribes and created a unified Mongol nation. It was at this point that he took the title we now know as Genghis or Chinggis (the more accurate Mongol spelling) Khan, usually translated as “Universal Ruler”—a title that certainly takes some chutzpah!

From there, Genghis embarked on a military campaign for the ages. In a 21-year stretch, his armies conquered much of northern China and the Khwarezmian Empire (which covered today’s Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and parts of Afghanistan and Kazakhstan). His descendants went on to conquer Russia, the Middle East and as far west as Hungary and Poland. While the largest empire the world has ever seen was the British Empire, the largest contiguous land empire was the Mongol Empire.

The Case for the Prosecution

So, why have the Mongols garnered such a ferocious and negative reputation?

 

WHY THE MONGOLS ARE FEARED –      Brutality of actions: The Mongols massacred entire towns and cities. It is estimated that 20–40 million people died either directly or indirectly at the hands of the Mongols. According to the Persian historian Juvayni, Genghis even told the people of Bukhara that he was “the punishment of God”, sent to bring utter destruction to anyone who refused to acknowledge his rule. –      Cultural vandalism: In 1258, Genghis’s grandson Hulagu sacked Baghdad and destroyed the House of Wisdom, one of the greatest libraries in the world at the time. Legend has it that the Tigris ran black with the ink of its books, permanently erasing centuries of scholarship. –      Mass rape and pillage: While accurate statistics are hard to come by, a 2003 genetic study suggested that around 8% of men in the lands of the former Mongol Empire, roughly 0.5% of all men alive today, share a Y-chromosome lineage often linked to Genghis Khan and his descendants.

 

The Case for the Defence

So, how can one even begin to justify defending a civilisation that participated in such atrocities?

 

WHAT THE MONGOLS GAVE THE WORLD 1.    The Mongols were integral to the revival of the Silk Roads, the globe’s first great interchange of commerce and trade. This was possible because of the Pax Mongolica, which, after the initial conquests, ushered in a period of peace and stability that allowed commerce and cultural exchange to flourish. 2.    Religious tolerance was a key value of the Mongols. While Genghis himself worshipped the Eternal Blue Sky, Tengri, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians and others were allowed to keep their faith as long as they remained loyal to the Khan. 3.    Meritocracy was central to the Mongol Empire. It didn’t matter if you were a lowly shepherd or the son of a Khan—everyone had an equal opportunity to rise through the ranks based on merit and achievement. 4.    They created an empire-wide postal and relay system (the Yam), which allowed for both efficient governance and trade.

 

Kill or Be Killed

The Mongols were a nomadic people. Later Khans established cities within their Eurasian empire, but for the most part, they were at their happiest and most successful when roaming the steppes. Understanding this is key to understanding their brutality. Throughout most of human history, conflict was often a case of kill or be killed. The Mongols couldn’t afford to leave defeated enemies behind, allowing them to regroup and seek revenge.

Furthermore, as suggested in the opening line, the Mongols are considered “barbarians” largely because they were and are misunderstood. They hailed from a land that remains an outlier in global affairs. If we look at other major civilisations and religions, their tactics have been no different. Lest we forget, America dropped two nuclear bombs on civilian populations in Japan and committed genocide against indigenous peoples, and Great Britain ran concentration camps during the Boer War in which tens of thousands died. No empire is innocent.

The Verdict

Thus, the defence of Genghis rests. History is fascinating and nuanced. While the people of Iran and Iraq may (rightly) scoff at this article, it aims to show a side to one of the most iconic men in history that doesn’t have to be agreed with but certainly needs to be understood.