Year 8 Mongol Army Essay Resource Booklet Guiding questions for notetaking

Mongols, Vikings and Huns by H. Kennedy (2002)

Mobility
Overall question: How did mobility contribute to the strength of the Mongol army?
Detailed evidence: How quickly could the Mongols move?
What effect did this have on their enemies?
How did the Mongols feed their horses while on campaign?
What foods did the Mongols eat while on campaign?
Conclusion: Mobility was a very important military advantage for the Mongols.

Extra Understanding: Why did the Mongol advance falter in India, southern Iran and Syria?

Equipment:
Overall question: What advantage did the Mongols equipment give them?
Detailed evidence: What did the Mongols use wagons to transport?
How did the Mongols utilise their bows?
Conclusion:

Training
Overall question: How did the Mongol training prepare them for war?
Detailed evidence: What training did the Mongols undertake?
What was Genghis Khans attitude this practice?
What source do we have as evidence of his attitude?
What key factors did the Mongols learn (and practice) about teamwork?
Conclusion:


Organisation
Overall question: How important was organisation to the success of the Mongol army?
Evidence: How did Genghis Khan change the organisation of Mongol society and why?
What principles of organisation were laid down at the Great Yasa in 1206?
What was Genghis Khans body guard? Why was it effective?
Why did Genghis Khan begin a career of conquest?
Conclusion:


Adding to your knowledge and understanding
Mongol Warfare - Thomas Craughwell (2010)
Minimising Casualties
How did Genghis Khan ensure that his army had as few casualties as possible?
What were some of the tactics he employed to mislead his enemies?

Self-sufficiency
What were some of the ways which contributed to each Mongol warrior being self-sufficient?
- Horses
- Equipment
- Clothing
- Weapons
- Bows what was the advantage of the double curved bow?

Medicine
Who were the doctors for the Mongol army?
What were the advantages of wearing a silk undershirt?


The Kashik
What were the duties of The Kashik?
How was The Kashik distinguished from the rest of the army?

The Great Hunt
What did The Great Hunt train the Mongol army to do?
What was Genghis Khans role in The Great Hunt?

Pilots on Horseback
Who do historians think invented stirrups?
What were the advantages of using stirrups?

Cavalry (from the Pilots on Horseback and Burning Tar Barrels sections)
What was the difference between the light cavalry and the heavy cavalry?
How were ranks arrayed for battle?
What was the Mangudai and how was it performed?

Gunpowder Bombs
How did the Mongols employ catapults and missiles?

Winning Was the Only Thing
What was the Mongol attitude to winning?

The Mongol Art of War Timothy May (2007)
Nutrition and Rations
What methods did the Mongols use to ensure their army had adequate rations?
What were the regular rations?
What was the role of horse blood in the rations?

The Supply and Manufacture of Weapons, Armour and Siege Engines
What did the Mongols do to ensure their army was equipped?

Espionage and Intelligence
How did the Mongols gather intelligence before a campaign?
What was the yam?

Psychological Tactics and Means of Deception
What was the psychological effect of massacres?
Describe some of the tactics the Mongols used in siege warfare and why they were successful. Note
the sources we have for these practices.