“All the Khan’s Horses”
by Morris Rossabi
Genghis Khan and his descendents could not have conquered and ruled the largest land empire in world history without their diminutive but extremely hardy steeds. In some respects, these Mongolian ponies resembled what is now known as Prezwalski’s horse. Mongols held these horses in highest regard and accorded them great spiritual significance. Before setting forth on military expeditions, for example, commanders would scatter mare’s milk on the earth to insure victory. In shamanic rituals, horses were sacrificed to provide “transport” to heaven.
The Mongols prized their horses primarily for the advantages they offered in warfare. In combat, the horses were fast and flexible, and Genghis Khan was the first leader to capitalize fully on these strengths. After hit-and-run raids, for example, his horsemen could race back and quickly disappear into their native steppes. Enemy armies from the sedentary agricultural societies to the south frequently had to abandon their pursuit because they were not accustomed to long rides on horseback and thus could not move as quickly. Nor could these farmer-soldiers leave their fields for extended periods to chase after the Mongols.
The Mongols had developed a composite bow made out of sinew and horn and were skilled at shooting it while riding, which gave them the upper hand against ordinary foot soldiers. With a range of more than 350 yards, the bow was superior to the contemporaneous English longbow, whose range was only 250 yards. A wood-and-leather saddle, which was rubbed with sheep’s fat to prevent cracking and shrinkage, allowed the horses to bear the weight of their riders for long periods and also permitted the riders to retain a firm seat. Their saddlebags contained cooking pots, dried meat, yogurt, water bottles, and other essentials for lengthy expeditions. Finally, a sturdy stirrup enabled horsemen to be steadier and thus more accurate in shooting when mounted. A Chinese chronicler recognized the horse’s value to the Mongols, observing that “by nature they [the Mongols] are good at riding and shooting. Therefore they took possession of the world through this advantage of bow and horse.”
1) Write a short summary describing the context of the above article.
2) How would the absence of the “horse” change the trajectory of the Mongol Empire? Why?
1) The article discusses the significant role that horses played in the Mongol Empire, both in terms of their spiritual importance to the Mongols and their practical advantages in warfare. It mentions how Mongols held their horses in high regard, with rituals involving mare's milk and sacrifices. The article also highlights how the Mongols' use of horses gave them the advantage in warfare, allowing them to move quickly and elude pursuit from enemy armies. The article also mentions the key features of the Mongols' horses, such as their speed, flexibility, and the ability to bear the weight of their riders for long periods.
2) The absence of horses would have drastically changed the trajectory of the Mongol Empire. Without their horses, the Mongols would have lost their key advantage in warfare, as they heavily relied on their fast and agile horses to carry out hit-and-run raids and outmaneuver enemy armies. The horses allowed the Mongols to quickly retreat into their native steppes and escape pursuit from slower foot soldiers. Additionally, the use of horses enabled the Mongols to effectively shoot their composite bows while riding, giving them superiority over ordinary foot soldiers. Without horses, the Mongols would have lost these tactical advantages and their ability to conquer and rule such a vast land empire would have been severely compromised.