Did the Mongols contribute anything to the world in their era?

[Argeus the Paladin]

The Mongol hordes. Yet another thread about them.

But instead of the usual "Mongol vs. Whatever", this here is a new question: Did the Mongols, in their conquest, done anything good for the world macrohistorically? For instance, did their presence led to any drastic, dramatic and beneficial trend in history from that point on?

Discuss.

[hellheaven1987]

Well, they did somehow unify China, which both Chinese and northern nomadic kingdoms could not achieve.

Without Mongol I don't think Ming would even show up.

[Ludicus]

Quick answer: the effects of the Pax Mongolica (eg reestablishment of the silk route, trade between the east and the west)

[maerd2003]

gunpowder in wars, establishment silk road. probably more..

[hellheaven1987]

gunpowder in wars, establishment silk road. probably more..

No, silk road already existed during Han Dynasty, and never really stopped. The import of gunpowder technology into Europe is debatable too, since there is no clear evidence suggest Europeans, particularly West Europe, got their technology from Muslim, who had gunpowder enlightment from Mongols.

[bushbush]

i personally think they destroyed more than they contributed. But i guess clearing up a path between West and East and allowed a great flow of information and technology was very useful.

Especially the arrival of Marco Polo, whose book influenced the european explorers, many of whom set off to try to find China.

[FreeRadical]

Oh I with the whole Mongol thing would die,Even though its interesting,its such a time drain-lol

The argument is that even though the Mongols created massive devastation,loss of life, destructive rads,with some cities never fully revering from that destruction, they made the highways free from bandits,and encouraged an exchange of ideas from east to west.These are just a few of the many sources I could quickly pick up.Also remember Marco Polo and his trips to see Kublai Khan.You had a thread about him earlier

.http://www.woodrow.org/teachers/worl...gol/women.html
"The Mongols brought the East and West together. For the first time the Europeans were in touch with East Asia. Not just Marco Polo but many Genoese and Venetian merchants as well as Persian astronomers and doctors came to Chna. In fact, four Persian hospitals were started in Beijing in the 13th century. The exchange of textiles and artisans influenced the art and culture of all Asia. The tremendous flow of ideas, of products, of people that occurred in the 13th and 14th centuries is the most important contribution the Mongols made. "

http://www.accd.edu/sac/history/geoproject/mongols.html
"The Mongol role in world history has gained wider appreciation in the last decade. Indeed, many world historians have concluded that the origins of our modern era began with the Mongol conquests of the thirteenth century. To observe this military process, run the map by clicking the following icon at the end of this paragraph. Using the maps at National Geographic Society, list various regions that Mongol conquest and Mongol domains connected. "

[Odovacar]

http://www.accd.edu/sac/history/geoproject/mongols.html
[FONT=Tahoma]"The Mongol role in world history has gained wider appreciation in the last decade. Indeed, many world historians have concluded that the origins of our modern era began with the Mongol conquests of the thirteenth century. T

Those historians won their diplom on lottery, I'm afraid.

[FreeRadical]

Those historians won their diplom on lottery, I'm afraid.

I guess so-lol.The darn link,went broke as well as the map that went with it.It was from a Sacramento California,State university Website,so I assume it was legit.You do have a point on historians though,one highly accredited modern historian said that she firmly believed that Marco Polo never went to China,and lied about the whole experience.

[Kagemusha]

Probably very little, but i dont think they really were interested about such issues. To come to think of atleast they gave a lesson to Japanese how effective foot missile units backed by spearmen were compared to aristocratic mounted warriors.

[Argeus the Paladin]

Probably very little, but i dont think they really were interested about such issues. To come to think of atleast they gave a lesson to Japanese how effective foot missile units backed by spearmen were compared to aristocratic mounted warriors.

And they taught us Vietnamese how effective scorch-earth policies and people's warfare work against vastly superior odds.

[maerd2003]

Those historians won their diplom on lottery, I'm afraid.

[bushbush]

I personally the trade aspect was overrated. Tang and Song dynasties already traded extensively with regions as far as middle-east and many muslims set up trading branches in China along with mosques (many of them are still there today) and there were also a great deal of information flow. I guess the most important aspect was for the first time, Europeans were able to get a glimpse of China directly with Mongols guaranteeing a safe passage along the way.

[FreeRadical]

I personally the trade aspect was overrated. Tang and Song dynasties already traded extensively with regions as far as middle-east and many muslims set up trading branches in China along with mosques (many of them are still there today) and there were also a great deal of information flow. I guess the most important aspect was for the first time, Europeans were able to get a glimpse of China directly with Mongols guaranteeing a safe passage along the way.

I agree about the China's trading extensively for a great period of time.The ancient Parthians even, I recall for example had done a lot of trade with China from the early C.E. era,but I believe the exchange of information and ideas spread more thoroughly around the world and at a quicker pace.You're last sentence sums up everything perfectly as to the reason why.

[torongill]

for me the mongol contribution can be compared to chimiotherapy for the treatment of a benign tumor - not really necessary, almost kills the patient and doesn't really achieve anything.

[bushbush]

for me the mongol contribution can be compared to chimiotherapy for the treatment of a benign tumor - not really necessary, almost kills the patient and doesn't really achieve anything.

i think black death worked better

[FreeRadical]

i think black death worked better

I know the Mongols have been accused,though its still up to speculation of spreading the black death at Caffa in the Crime by throwing corpes over city walls in a siegeOthers Mongol port cities are speculated as being the cause also.I don't think anyone can deny the impact on the world they had.Both very Good,negative impact in my opinion.Black death, not so good



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feodosiya
It is believed that the devastating pandemic the Black Death entered Europe for the first time via Caffa in 1347, through the movements of the Golden Horde. After a protracted siege during which the Mongol army under Janibeg was reportedly withering from the disease, they catapulted the infected corpses over the city walls, infecting the inhabitants. Fleeing inhabitants may have carried the disease back to Italy, causing its spread across Europe.However, the plague appears to have spread in a stepwise fashion, taking over a year to reach Europe from Crimea. Also, there were a number of Crimean ports under Mongol control, so it is unlikely that Caffa was the only source of plague-infested ships heading to Europe. In addition, there were overland caravan routes from the East that would have been carrying the disease into Europe as well.[1]

[0N3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feodosiya
It is believed that the devastating pandemic the Black Death entered Europe for the first time via Caffa in 1347, through the movements of the Golden Horde. After a protracted siege during which the Mongol army under Janibeg was reportedly withering from the disease, they catapulted the infected corpses over the city walls, infecting the inhabitants. Fleeing inhabitants may have carried the disease back to Italy, causing its spread across Europe.However, the plague appears to have spread in a stepwise fashion, taking over a year to reach Europe from Crimea. Also, there were a number of Crimean ports under Mongol control, so it is unlikely that Caffa was the only source of plague-infested ships heading to Europe. In addition, there were overland caravan routes from the East that would have been carrying the disease into Europe as well.[1]

Wow, now someone must educate me. School taught me Europe got it from the spanish, and that the spanish got it from America somehow??

[torongill]

Wow, now someone must educate me. School taught me Europe got it from the spanish, and that the spanish got it from America somehow??

I really hope you're just joking. Maybe you misinterpret the direction, like in "America got it from the Spanish, who got it from Europe". The black plague came from Asia.

[bleach]

Wow, now someone must educate me. School taught me Europe got it from the spanish, and that the spanish got it from America somehow??

That was syphilis, supposedly. Bubonic plague traveled in the opposite direction, Europe to America.