Chapter 11 Documents

In chapter 11 documents, we consider the evidence of various perspectives on the Mongols.  These documents are interesting in that two documents reflect the Mongol’s perception of themselves and the other two are outside perspectives of the Mongols. After reading the documents, I was easily able to decipher the different perspectives of the Mongols; however, I personally can not grasp a full understanding of the Mongols because these vastly different perspectives make me question who the Mongols really were.

Throughout history the Mongols have been portrayed as aggressive and destructive peoples; however, this first document sheds light over these perceptions in which a clearer image of who the Mongols really were shines through. The Secret History of the Mongols, is a written account from a Mongol source.  I was shocked reading this document, as I previously had an image of the Mongolians and this document completely shattered my depiction.  I soon learned that Mongols had a tradition or practice called anda which was a very close relationship between two unrelated men. This was a unique concept to me, I don’t recall any other people or empires that we have studied that have a practice similar to anda. With my previous image of the Mongols, I would have never guessed that a practice like the anda, would have been a prized tradition within the Mongolian community. This document reveals that “when two men become anda their lives become one, one will never desert the other and will always defend him...and love each other forever.”  This quote specifically altered my perception of the Mongols. This does not seem like a practice that a bunch of destructive savages would possess, but a practice that honorable educated men would engage in.

The next document comes from the voice of Chinggis Khan in Letter to Changehun.  Chinggis Kahn is often depicted as a ruthless dictator, but this document shows a very different side of Kahn, in which here appears to emits a great sense of passion and pride for his people and his position of rule. Although Kahn had much success during his rule, he appears very modest and willing to sacrifice himself for his people. The document conveys: “I hate luxury and exercise moderation. I have only one coat and one food... I consider the people my children, and bothers...At military exercises I am always in the front...”  In my opinion, this is a symbol of a highly respectable leader that any country or empire would be lucky to have. Although Kahn my had a hard exterior, this documents reveals Kahn interior self is passionate and in many ways selfless. It is unfortunate that many historians and people in general only remember Kahn for his stern rule, as oppose to his softer more emotional side that drives him to success. 

The third document is the perspective of Russia who possesses a very stereotypical vision of the Mongols.  In The Chronicle of Novgorod, the Russians paint a fearful picture of the Mongols who appear to be terrorizing the a Russian village. The document coveys that the Mongols set the city on fire and killed anyone from men, women, children, nuns, monks, and even priests.  This picture painted is absolutely awful, and in reading this document I can almost feel the fear of theses people the Mongols victimized.  Its so dumbfounding to see how quickly my feeling of the Mongols changed after reading this document.  Perhaps there is such somewhat of an  exaggeration here, but even if you bring the severity of these actions down a level, the actions committed here would still be horrendous.

The last document is a Chinese perspective of the Mongols.  The Epitaph for the Honorable Menggu, creates an image of an oppressive Mongolian force; however, not as extreme as the Russian perspective. The document focuses on a Mongol representative, named Menggu, who was well like by the Chinese people.  Meggu appeared as an authority figure for the Chinese people, but promoted an environment for peace, safety, and overall love for one another. Meggu must have had a profound impact on the Chinese people, for many other “outsiders” perceived the Mongols as a  reckless, dangerous, and perhaps gruesome peoples.

The various perspectives of the Mongols are clearly of wide range.  I find it difficult to complete my own perspective of the Mongols, but after reading this specific evidence; I am leaning towards a more positive image of these people.  Although the Mongols have often been associated with raids and murders, the compassion they have for one another in these documents and even for outsiders in the last document is heart warming. I feel like if our society genuinely cared for one another, and humanity in general, our world  would most defiantly be a better place.