Genghis Khan - this name is known to everyone. Conqueror of the world, characterized by extreme cruelty, is interesting for many historians. This person has left a trail of blood in history: Genghis Khan conquered vast territories, as well as many nations. The scale of his conquests was enormous. In memory of humanity, they have left the strongest impression.
Genghis Khan is definitely different from other great rulers, power-hungry invaders. No one had so unquenchable thirst for cruelty, brutality and destruction of everything that occurred on the way. There may have impact the Middle Ages, however, in this case, it surpassed the normal level of medieval brutality. Genghis Khan was imbued with hatred. And this strong sense can become a stimulus for the conquest of half the world.
The investigated problem is urgent and important. Many historians argue that two hundred dependence on the Mongol-Tatar yoke was the cause of cultural and economic problems of Russia. Perhaps now Russia would be on a higher level of development. Similarly, the conquest of Genghis Khan affected other conquered states, cities, territories, and people (Weatherford 67). Which prompted one of the most ruthless conquerors of the world to conquer many nations and seize large areas, and how all this happened? Was Genghis Khan talented commander, and that awakened in him ruthlessness?
In the midst of the Great Steppe Eurasia stretches, bounded on the north of the Siberian taiga, and from the south - the mountain systems. Due to the climate and terrain in the East steppe received excess moisture and could provide hoofed animals forage for the whole year. And where the fed cattle thrive people. So there are favorable conditions for the creation of the mighty powers of nomadic Huns, Turks and Mongols.
Chinese chroniclers called all people living to the north of China, the Great Steppe, one name - Tatars. In fact, it was the name of only one of the numerous steppe tribes. Tatars themselves were divided into three branches: the "white", "black" and "wild" (Komaroff 115). They extremely differed on the farm, with respect to power, kinship, nature and many other aspects. In addition to the Tatars, Mongols inhabited the Great Steppe, Naiman, Merkit, Oirats and other tribes.
According to another classification, the Mongols called large tribal group, which includes the different peoples, including Merkit, Tatars and others. They were not strong warlike tribe. The word "Mongol" meant "powerless." They were almost completely wiped out by the Khitan tribe in the Greater Khingan and the Argun River, in the depths of Mongolia. As the story goes, there are only two men and two women, but for all that the Mongols brutally retaliated. However, the importance of the following fact: the tribe did not immediately and suddenly became a leader, and passed a complex historical path.
In the Mongolian steppes were many ore deposits, allowing even the most primitive tools - blacksmith furs and fires - to begin production of iron. Its development gave a great advantage, since the metal is inferior in strength of bronze, and the people who know how to forge iron, such as arrowheads were more often winners. But by the time of Genghis Khan's Mongols - it is a strong and noble tribe. Later on barbarism combined them with earlier steppe slavery. All the tribes of the Great Steppe often at odds with each other, but the conflicts were in the nature of border skirmishes.
Nomadic life was secured, but difficult, and most importantly - hopeless. All senior could take only by right of birth, which was defined very difficult, and it was that year-old child was entitled to become a khan and have the title of Noyon (Prince), and a wise old man or the mighty warrior had no such opportunity.
Mongolians traditionally were at odds with the Manchus, which manifested itself in the form of raids and open clashes. But with the growth of the energy potential of these people changed the nature of the confrontation. In the XII century barbarism reigned - not only of the Mongols, but other peoples of the Great Steppe in danger (Zerjal 720). When the constant raids of the Manchus took an awesome character, the Mongols realized the need for unification. Their families organized and elected Khan. The first Mongolian Khan proved himself as a great sire, was named Qabul. He ruled in the 30-40-ies of the XII century and was able to stop the onslaught of the Manchus.
However, shortly after the death Qabul Khan (1149) Mongol tribal alliance broke up, as most did not think of themselves as subject to "people of long will" (representatives of noble birth) and provide very little support. In the tribe, Kerait also continued disagreement. Rightful heir Togrul took belonged to him power, but the opposition was very strong, because the powerful family of the young Khan, relying on his smoking, strongly interfere with the union. In this case, Naiman entered into an alliance with the opposition and Kerait Manchus. It seemed that the peoples of the Great Steppe will never be able to join forces to defend against the enemy. Future steppe seemed darkest.
In the middle of the XII century, after the death of several Mongol Khans Mongolian Defence of the Manchus and its allies - the Tatars - headed descendant Qabul Khan - Yesugei Bahadar ("bagatur" meant "hero"). Yesugei Bahadar Khan was not, as the head of ulus (nomadic group of people, large families) Bordjigin kind, who lived north of the modern Russian-Mongolian border. This person is respected, able to fight, rebuffed neighbors and had his own squad.
Once, when Yesugei was very young. He hunted with a falcon in the desert and suddenly saw an unknown Merkit luck in the cart girl of exceptional beauty. Yesugei decided to kidnap her, and called his brethren, and the Mongols rushed in pursuit of prey. Noticing his pursuers, the girl to save her fiance, Merkit, forced him to leave without it, make sure that it will always be remembered. Then she took off her shirt and gave it to him as a souvenir. Merkit quickly unharnessed the horse, burns his whip and went away from the chase, and his brother brought home a crying girl and marry her Esugeya. This girl, whose name remained in history, called Oelun.
The marriage was a happy one. Oelun gave birth to four sons and a daughter. However, as the Mongols allowed and encouraged polygamy in Esugeya also was the second wife bore him two more sons. In 1155 or 1162 (for a variety of historical sources) Oelun her first child - Temujin (Temujin Mongolian). Subsequently, it will be called Genghis Khan (Man 80).
If you believe the legend, Temujin was born with a blood clot in the form of a stone in his right hand. This was considered a special sign and subsequently often recalled. The boy's face lit up, hair and eyes were too bright for the Mogul, and look not a child focus. This is explained by the fact that the genus Temujin dates back to the descendants of a heavenly man with light eyes named Bodonchar. This was an allusion to the divine origin. Oelun told me if she was someone during pregnancy, and she saw in the heavens some glow.
According to some sources, a young beauty, kidnapped Esugeem just married Merkit. Due to this fact, there was doubt as to the origin of Temujin. The question of who his real father, Genghis Khan tormented life. In his youth, if he wanted to humiliate, called Merkit offspring. It was a terrible insult. Mother hinted at its divine origin, perhaps in order to overcome the boy inferiority complex. But, despite this, doubt Genghis Khan throughout his life.
When Temujin grew up, and he was 9 years old, according to Mongol custom, he had to be engaged. Father arranged for engagement with parents Temujin decade beautiful girl named Borte from a neighboring tribe honkirat and brought his son-in-law in the encampment of the future. Becoming the wife of Genghis Khan, Borte will play a big role in his life. Leaving from Temujin honkiratov that he was accustomed to his fiancee and future relatives Yesugei went way back (Baggaley 45). On the way, he saw several people sitting by the fire, which, as expected in the wilderness, invited him to share a meal. Yesugei came closer and only then realized that it was the Tartars. Escape was useless: the Tatars pursued to him, and the horse Yesugei tired. The guests at the campfire on the steppe tradition nobody could touch.
In Esugeya no choice - he accepted the invitation and, having eaten safely gone, but on the way, he felt bad and decided that the Tatars offered him a poisoned drink mare's milk. On the fourth day, got home, he died, bequeathing to avenge relatives Tatars (Sabloff 15). It is hard to say how right Yesugei in his suspicions, but what is important: it is assumed that the Tatars could poison him, that is, to make a hitherto unheard of violation of customs steppe.
Companions father went for Temuchin and brought the boy home. As the eldest son, he became head of the family, but with the death of his father, Ulus disintegrated. His authority Yesugei made people go camping, to defend against the enemy, forget parochial scores for a common cause. But since Yesugei was not Khan, his influence ended with his death. Bogaturov squad, relatives and close friends were leaving. They did not have any obligations to the family Yesugei, because people they bring personal fealty, has died. They have the right and opportunity to recognize the successor eldest son Yesugei. But the chances that this boy will soon become a strong, brave warrior, able to lead the people were extremely small. A need was just such a leader to defend against neighbors. Thus, the tribesmen left Bordjigin distilled off all their cattle, dooming Yesugei family to starvation.
The initiators of such cruelty became Tayichi'ut - tribe, which was hostile to Esugaja. Then Oelun grabbed the banner Yesugei, jumped for departing and shame them that they throw their family leader. Some have returned, but then again left, and all the difficulties of raising children and the production of food for the family fell on the shoulders of two women: Oelun and Sochihel - older and younger women Yesugei. They caught marmots to get at least some meat, and collected wild garlic - wild garlic. Temujin went to the river and tried to shoot trout. Like all the Mongols, he was able to shoot through the water, despite the fact that water refracts light, distorting the image and hit the target is very difficult. Even in summer the family lived from hand to mouth, making stocks for the winter.
Meanwhile tribesmen, insulted and left the family Yesugei continued to follow her because they feared a well-deserved revenge. Apparently, they managed to make voyeur eldest son Sochihel - Bekter. He felt for the force began to behave contemptuously toward children Oelun. Temujin and Hasar not stand bullying stepbrother and his shot from a bow. According to one version, the murder took place on the hunt brothers not shared or fish, or a little lark.
Works Cited
Baggaley, Jon. Harmonizing global education: from Genghis Khan to Facebook. Routledge, 2012.
Komaroff, Linda, ed. Beyond the legacy of Genghis Khan. Vol. 64. Brill, 2012.
Man, John. Genghis Khan. Random House, 2010.
Sabloff, Paula LW. Modern Mongolia: Reclaiming Genghis Khan. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 2001.
Weatherford, J. McIver. Genghis Khan and the making of the modern world. Random House LLC, 2004.
Zerjal, Tatiana, et al. "The genetic legacy of the Mongols." The American Journal of Human Genetics 72.3 (2003): 717-721.
