I was surprised by the level of significance the Mongols played during the sixteenth century. Surprised in the sense that they were a formidable military power that I had not heard about in previous history classes. As if the conquering and massacre of other cultures was not enough the Mongols were also responsible for bringing the plague to Europe and Asia.
Upon the Mongols invasion of China, simply talking over was not sufficient. When trying to decide what to do with their latest acquisition one of the ideas was to decimate the entire population and turn the land into one big pasture for their livestock. Instead, the Mongols made use of the Chinese technology in place and also inserted themselves into Chinese history by creating their own dynastic titles.
In Persia, the Mongols continued their blood thirsty quest for power and property. Villages were plundered over and over and Persian agriculture was destroyed. Some of the Mongols subsequently interjected themselves in the Persian way of life by settling down, getting married and farming.
Onward to Russia, where in keeping with their traditions the Mongols plundered Russia and its people far worse than they had with the Chinese and Persians. The Mongols had no desire to actually occupy Russia so in their absence the Mongols “exploited” the Russians financially. They were able to maintain this arrangement simply with the mere threat of returning if they demands were not met.
The Mongols produced nothing and they weren’t active traders even through they were nomads. They individual culture was cultivated from brutal force and theft.
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