Debate #3: The Mongols

The Mongols got a bad rep from historians. In fact they deserve respect for creating a civilization with a long-term impact on world history. Yes or No?

     I do not think that the Mongols really deserve respect for creating a civilization with a long-term impact on world history because of a variety of things. First of all, the Mongols did not really create a civilization; rather, they mostly asserted their influence over a wide region. Even then, their "civilization" did not last a long period of time. In addition, while they did conquer a large part of the Afro-Eurasian world, they did not establish their own identity. They merely resided in these places like the nomadic peoples that they were. The difference between their situation after they conquered different countries compared to when they were living solely in the steppes was that the Mongols did not need to worry about anyone invading them since they already ruled the area.
     Another reason that the Mongols did not technically have their own civilization that resulted in a long-term impact on world history is that they were barbarians, not "civilized" peoples. Even after they conquered other peoples, they went about their barbarian practices and nomadic ways. For example, in China, the Mongols continued to live in tents in their own secluded area separate from the Chinese people. Also, the Mongols did not have their own specific civilization; rather, they assimilated themselves within the civilization that they conquered. Rather than exert their authority and their culture over their conquered lands, the Mongols instead became a part of the civilizations that were already there. Over time, the Mongols were not even identifiable as pure Mongols since they blended in so well within the civilization with which they were occupying. This definitely comes off as a failure in terms of creating a unique civilization for the Mongols.
     Lastly, the Mongolians were thought to have facilitated the spread of the Bubonic Plague. Therefore, rather than creating a civilization, the Mongols indirectly caused the fall of many civilizations through the spread of the Plague. In addition, their methods of conquering other lands caused the fall of established civilizations, requiring those civilizations to then rebuild. Another point against the Mongols is in terms of religion. Each civilization had a religion that mostly dominated that region. The Mongols, however, did not have their own religion. Also, they adopted whatever religion would benefit them at that specific moment in time. Therefore, they switched back and forth on religions just as long as it benefited them then. This further indicates that the Mongols continued their nomadic mindset, thus rendering nomadic and not "civilized."

Islam

     In the modern world, people's idea of Islam and Muslims is quite skewed, especially in America. However, looking back at the very beginnings of the religion and the empire allows one to understand the religion more and notice that the modern events involving Islam was not how it was in the beginning.

     From 600 to 1600, Islam played a central role in the Afro-Eurasian role, which then lived on to the modern age. This civilization spanned multiple continents, establishing prosperous cosmopolitan areas, such as Mecca and Baghdad, in places such as Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The founder of the religion, Muhammad Ibn Abdullah, who was born in Mecca as part of the Quraysh family, was said to have been meditating in a cave when the angel Gabriel revealed himself to Muhammad, relaying the word of God to him. After establishing the new religion, his very own people, the Quraysh were against him, causing Muhammad and his small band of followers to leave Mecca and reside in Medina. Over time, Muhammad was able to conquer other territories, including winning over Mecca by defeating their forces, leading to the expansion and growth of the Islamic Empire. Due to Muhammad's great military expertise, Islam spread all throughout the Afro-Eurasian world, establishing influence in many territories such as Ghana, India, and especially Persia.

     The Quran, the Islamic holy book said to contain the sayings of God, greatly influenced the religion, dictating much of the way people lived. In addition, it described the way people were supposed to conduct themselves. Although both men and women were equal under God, men were considered superior to women. Women were supposed to be covered from head to toe and wearing veils. Men were not allowed to look at a woman, whether those men were old or not, and therefore were not allowed to touch a woman, unless that woman was his wife. Also, women were often relegated to their own quarters and were not allowed to leave the room unless they were fully covered. Despite all of these regulations restricting women, women still observed some freedom and rights. For example, they were allowed to choose their husbands and could initiate divorce. In terms of slave marriage, men were allowed to marry up to four women, but he had treat them all equally. In addition, men could marry slave women only after he set them free. Women, on the other hand, were not allowed to marry slave men.

China and the World: East Asian Connections

     Many historians choose to focus on the Europeans and their Renaissance period and noting how significant this period of time was for the entire world, then and now. However, they have chosen to ignore an equally significant Renaissance-of-sorts that occurred in the East. China was one of the major civilizations of the classical world, but it does not get enough attention and recognition. Further examination of the area sees that there were very significant ideas and technologies that originated from China, which eventually spread to other parts of the world. Therefore, China's influence was not only contained in one specific area; its reach spread across much of Eurasia.
     During the political conflicts of the "era of warring states," Confucianism and Daoism took hold and became integral to Chinese society. Due to the growing popularity of Confucianism, however, men actively subordinated women, reducing the rights that women could enjoy. After marriage, women were required to leave her family and become part of her husband's family, where all of her property became his. In addition, wives had to constantly compete with concubines and prostitutes for their husbands' attention, and did so by practicing foot-binding in order to make their feet look smaller since that was considered beautiful. Unfortunately, this was a painful process that resulted in women's feet to be deformed.
     China's influence reached that of Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. Since they were part of the mainland, Korea and Vietnam experienced a lot of Chinese influence that was mostly forced upon them, such as Confucianism. Before the invasion of the Chinese, women enjoyed more freedom in Korea and Vietnam. However, due to Confucianism being enforced in these countries, women were stripped of most of their freedom and rights, such as being able to marry a man of their choosing and living in her family's home. Japan, on the other hand, welcomed Chinese influence, especially their political system, since it seemed to be prosperous. However, the Chinese could not enforce their influence on the Japanese since they were not part of the mainland, thereby allowing the Japanese to pick and choose what parts of the Chinese culture that they wanted to adopt.
     China's influence was not restricted to the lands around them. Their reach spread all the way to the west in the European countries. Their inventions of gunpowder, silk, the magnetic compass, paper, and printing traveled through the silk roads and spread to various parts of the continent. However, China was not the only one spreading their influence; they were also at the receiving end of it. Inventions such as the cannon made their way into China, thus revolutionizing their military strategies. The most important and influential idea that made its way into China, however, was the religion of Buddhism. Buddhism became a central part of Chinese culture, and the Chinese version of the religion even found its way to Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. Overall, the Chinese Renaissance, although not as highly publicized, was just as significant as that of the European Renaissance.