The Mongols administered their vast empire through a sophisticated system that combined Mongol, Chinese, Persian, and Central Asian administrative traditions. The system was based on a number of key institutions, including the decimal military organization, the Yassa code of law, the yam postal system, and the imperial administration that was staffed by Mongols, Chinese, Persians, and Central Asians.
The Mongol administrative system was one of the most complex administrative systems in the medieval world, and it was a major factor in the success of the Mongol Empire. The system allowed the Mongols to govern a vast empire that stretched from the Pacific to the Carpathians, and it allowed the Mongols to maintain the unity of the empire for more than a century.
The Central Administration
The central administration of the Mongol Empire was based at the imperial court, which moved with the great khan. The court was staffed by a number of major officials, including the chancellor, the chief judge, the chief accountant, and the commander of the imperial guard.
The most important of the central officials was the chancellor, who was responsible for the administration of the empire. The first chancellor of the Mongol Empire was the Uyghur scribe Tatatunga, who served under Genghis Khan and who established the Uyghur script as the official writing system of the empire. The chancellor was assisted by a number of other officials, including the chief judge, the chief accountant, and the commander of the imperial guard.
The central administration was responsible for the formulation of policy, the supervision of the provincial administrations, and the maintenance of the imperial records. The central administration was also responsible for the maintenance of the yam postal system, which was the backbone of the imperial communication system.
The Provincial Administration
The provincial administration of the Mongol Empire was based on a system of provinces, each of which was ruled by a governor or a viceroy. The provincial governors were typically members of the imperial family or trusted followers of the great khan, and they were responsible for the administration of the provinces.
The provincial administration was responsible for the collection of taxes, the maintenance of order, the administration of justice, and the recruitment of soldiers. The provincial administration was also responsible for the maintenance of the yam postal system within the province, and for the transmission of the imperial decrees.
The provincial administration was staffed by a combination of Mongols, Chinese, Persians, and Central Asians. The Mongols were the dominant class, but the Chinese, Persians, and Central Asians played important roles in the administration. The Chinese, in particular, were responsible for the financial administration of the eastern provinces, and the Persians were responsible for the financial administration of the western provinces.
The Legal System
The legal system of the Mongol Empire was based on the Yassa code of law, which established a uniform system of law across the empire. The Yassa was supplemented by the local laws of the various peoples of the empire, including the Chinese, the Muslims, the Christians, and the others.
The Yassa was enforced by a network of judges and administrators, who were appointed by the khan and who were responsible for the administration of justice in the territories of the empire. The judges were required to apply the Yassa uniformly, and they were required to report to the khan on the cases that they had heard.
The legal system was a major factor in the success of the Mongol Empire, and it was one of the keys to the stability of the Mongol state. The legal system was also a major source of tension in the Mongol world, and the legal system was often cited by the critics of the Mongol Empire as evidence of the brutality of the Mongol state.
The Tax System
The tax system of the Mongol Empire was based on a combination of tribute, taxation, and confiscation. The tribute was paid by the subject peoples to the great khan, and the taxation was administered by the provincial governors. The confiscation was carried out by the imperial officials, who confiscated the property of criminals and enemies of the state.
The tax system was a major source of revenue for the Mongol Empire, and it was a major factor in the ability of the Mongols to maintain their vast empire. The tax system was, however, also a major source of corruption, and the tax system was often cited by the critics of the Mongol Empire as evidence of the exploitation of the subject peoples.
The tax system was reformed by a number of Mongol emperors, including Ögedei Khan and Kublai Khan, and the reforms were largely successful. The tax system was also a major factor in the ability of the Mongols to maintain the yam postal system and the other imperial institutions.
The Communication System
The communication system of the Mongol Empire was based on the yam postal system, which was the network of way stations that the Mongols used to communicate across the empire. The yam was one of the most important institutions of the Mongol state, and it was a major factor in the success of the Mongol military, the Mongol administration, and the Pax Mongolica.
The yam was administered by a special office of the imperial government, the “Yam Office” or the “Postal Office,” which was responsible for the maintenance of the stations, the breeding of the horses, and the staffing of the couriers. The yam was staffed by a mix of Mongols, Turks, Chinese, and other peoples, and the staff was responsible for the safety of the couriers and the maintenance of the horses.
The yam was a major factor in the success of the Mongol administration. The system made it possible to communicate across the empire in a matter of weeks, and it allowed the government to send orders and reinforcements to the front in a matter of weeks. The system also allowed the government to gather intelligence from the far ends of the empire, and it allowed the merchants to supply the army with goods and materials.
Sources
- David Morgan, The Mongols (2nd ed., Oxford, 2007).
- Peter Jackson, The Mongols and the West, 1221–1410 (London, 2005).
- Timothy May, The Mongol Conquests in World History (London, 2012).