Mongol Empire - Part 5: The Mongol Diversity Advantage: How Conquered Peoples Became Conquerors
Key Takeaways Absorption Over Extermination: The Mongols systematically integrated conquered peoples rather than simply ruling over them. Skills Acquisition: Each conquered people added capabilities – Chinese engineers, Persian administrators, Turkic cavalry. Identity Expansion: "Mongol" became an identity anyone could join through loyalty and service. Religious Tolerance: The Mongols remained neutral toward religions, preventing the resistance that religious persecution creates. Self-Reinforcing Growth: Each conquest made the next easier by adding capabilities. The Mongol army that invaded Europe in 1241 included: ...