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."