The Mongol treatment of conquered peoples varied considerably over time and place, but it was generally characterized by a combination of brutality and pragmatism. The Mongols were known for their harsh treatment of those who resisted, and they were known for their pragmatic tolerance of those who submitted.
The Mongol approach to the conquered peoples was based on a number of key principles, including:
- The destruction of cities that resisted
- The deportation of skilled workers to the Mongol heartland
- The recruitment of soldiers from the conquered peoples
- The adoption of the administrative traditions of the conquered peoples
- The toleration of the religions of the conquered peoples
These principles were applied in a variety of ways across the Mongol Empire, and the application of the principles varied depending on the circumstances of the conquest and the resistance of the conquered peoples.
The Destruction of Cities
The Mongols were notorious for the destruction of cities that resisted. The destruction was a major feature of the Mongol invasions, and it was a major factor in the success of the Mongol military. The destruction was based on a number of factors, including:
- The desire to discourage resistance in other cities
- The desire to acquire the wealth of the city
- The desire to demonstrate the power of the Mongol military
The destruction of cities was a major factor in the psychological effect of the Mongol invasions. The stories of the destruction of cities like Bukhara, Samarkand, and Merv spread quickly, and they encouraged other cities to surrender without a fight. The destruction was, in this sense, a way of multiplying the strength of the Mongol army.
The most famous of the destructions were the sack of Bukhara in 1220, the sack of Samarkand in 1220, the sack of Merv in 1221, the sack of Baghdad in 1258, and the sack of Kiev in 1240. The destruction of these cities was a major blow to the civilizations that they represented, and it was a major factor in the political, cultural, and economic decline of the regions that they served.
The Deportation of Skilled Workers
The Mongols routinely deported skilled workers from the conquered peoples to the Mongol heartland. The deportations were a major feature of the Mongol invasions, and they were a major factor in the spread of skills and knowledge across Eurasia. The deportations included:
- Blacksmiths
- Carpenters
- Weavers
- Potters
- Doctors
- Engineers
- Artists
The deportations were a major factor in the spread of Chinese technologies to the Middle East and to Europe. The deportations were also a major factor in the development of the Mongol economy, since the deported workers were able to provide the Mongols with a wide range of manufactured goods.
The deportations were typically carried out by the Mongol army, and the deported workers were typically settled in the Mongol heartland or in the major cities of the Mongol Empire. The deportations were not always voluntary, and the deported workers were often required to work under harsh conditions.
The Recruitment of Soldiers
The Mongols also recruited soldiers from the conquered peoples. The recruitment was a major feature of the Mongol military, and it was a major factor in the ability of the Mongols to expand their army. The recruited soldiers were typically organized into separate units, and they were typically used in conjunction with the Mongol units.
The recruitment of soldiers from the conquered peoples was particularly important in the western campaigns. The Mongols recruited soldiers from the Turkic peoples, the Russian peoples, and the various peoples of the Caucasus. The recruited soldiers were typically used as auxiliaries, and they were typically given lighter equipment than the Mongol units.
The recruitment of soldiers was a major factor in the success of the Mongol military, and it was a major factor in the ability of the Mongols to maintain their vast empire. The recruitment was, however, also a major source of tension in the Mongol world, since the recruited soldiers were often at odds with the Mongol soldiers.
The Adoption of Administrative Traditions
The Mongols adopted the administrative traditions of the conquered peoples. The adoption was a major feature of the Mongol administration, and it was a major factor in the success of the Mongol state. The Mongols adopted the Chinese administrative traditions in the Yuan Dynasty, the Persian administrative traditions in the Ilkhanate, and the various administrative traditions of the other khanates.
The adoption of the administrative traditions was a major factor in the ability of the Mongols to govern their vast empire. The adoption allowed the Mongols to make use of the skills and the experience of the conquered peoples, and the adoption allowed the Mongols to maintain the loyalty of the conquered populations.
The adoption of the administrative traditions was also a major factor in the cultural assimilation of the khanates. The adoption allowed the Mongols to integrate the conquered peoples into the imperial administration, and the adoption allowed the Mongols to maintain the unity of the empire.
The Toleration of Religions
The Mongols tolerated the religions of the conquered peoples. The toleration was a major feature of the Mongol state, and it was a major factor in the success of the Mongol Empire. The Mongols allowed their subjects to practice their own faiths, and the Mongols patronized a wide variety of religious institutions.
The toleration was based on a combination of practical and ideological considerations. The practical consideration was that the Mongols needed the cooperation of the religious leaders of the conquered peoples, and they could not afford to antagonize them. The ideological consideration was that the Mongols believed that the gods of all religions were manifestations of the same divine power, and that all religions had a right to exist.
The toleration of religions was a major factor in the success of the Mongol Empire. The toleration made it possible for the Mongols to recruit administrators, engineers, and craftsmen from all of the conquered peoples, regardless of their religion. The toleration also made it possible for the Mongols to maintain the loyalty of the subject populations, who were generally allowed to practice their own faiths.
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).