Chapter 11 Online Commentary
Wow, Wow, and Wow! Chapter 11 focuses on "The Mongol Moment" and it was mind-altering. In my younger years, I had heard about Chinggis Khan and had associated him as a ruthless barbarian killer. Cold-hearted. After I read about his beginnings, my impression of him changed. Weird, I know, but true.
I thought about the struggles he went through as a young boy with the death of his father and a mother who fought tirelessly to provide for him. His example of perseverence, however violent his methods eventually became, was one of respect. To think that this one young man with no schooling or education whatsoever, managed to create, as the text states, "the largest land-based empire in all of human history" is unimaginable.
In the past, I have heard people say, "What can one person do?" Well, this is a prime example of that. If we really take the time to look, we will find many one-persons in our history. And usually these individuals end up making extreme differences in the world. Something totally huge for mankind. So on this note, what did Chinggis Khan do for the world?
Well, his military strategies were unsurpassed. He knew to restructure his military in units of 10, 100, 1000, and 10,000 warriors to make them easier to control and command. Although I do not agree with his tactic of causing terror within his groups, I can see where this produced respect and obedience in return. But of course saying to someone if you desert your fellow comrades in battle, everyone will be killed, or how about anyone who resists him, "they shall be destroyed with their wives, children and dependents . . . so that the others who hear and see should fear and not act the same." I an not a fan of this kind of treatment in any way, but this was his way and it produced results. I can see why he was regarded in a negative light, but the impact he made on the rest of the world is a feat to be admired.
I thought about the struggles he went through as a young boy with the death of his father and a mother who fought tirelessly to provide for him. His example of perseverence, however violent his methods eventually became, was one of respect. To think that this one young man with no schooling or education whatsoever, managed to create, as the text states, "the largest land-based empire in all of human history" is unimaginable.
In the past, I have heard people say, "What can one person do?" Well, this is a prime example of that. If we really take the time to look, we will find many one-persons in our history. And usually these individuals end up making extreme differences in the world. Something totally huge for mankind. So on this note, what did Chinggis Khan do for the world?
Well, his military strategies were unsurpassed. He knew to restructure his military in units of 10, 100, 1000, and 10,000 warriors to make them easier to control and command. Although I do not agree with his tactic of causing terror within his groups, I can see where this produced respect and obedience in return. But of course saying to someone if you desert your fellow comrades in battle, everyone will be killed, or how about anyone who resists him, "they shall be destroyed with their wives, children and dependents . . . so that the others who hear and see should fear and not act the same." I an not a fan of this kind of treatment in any way, but this was his way and it produced results. I can see why he was regarded in a negative light, but the impact he made on the rest of the world is a feat to be admired.
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