Mongol Empire - Part 12: The Yasa: The Law Code That Built an Empire
Key Takeaways Practical Over Theoretical: The Yasa addressed real problems of steppe life and imperial governance. Universal Application: The same basic laws applied from Korea to Poland. Harsh but Clear: Punishments were severe, but rules were understandable. Religious Neutrality: The Yasa protected all religions equally. Meritocratic Values: Law reinforced promotion by ability and collective responsibility. Every empire needs law. Armies can conquer; only law can govern. When Genghis Khan unified the Mongol tribes around 1206, he faced the challenge of binding diverse peoples under common rules. His solution was the Yasa (also spelled Jasagh) – a legal code that would govern the largest contiguous empire in history. ...