The Mongol Influence On Europe And Islam

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The Mongol Influence on Europe & the Islamic world The term “Mongols” brings to mind a barbaric, blood thirsty people who roamed the lands of old, destroying civilized life wherever it existed and liberally taking the lives of innocent men. This cliché is only partly true. The ancient Mongols were fearsome warriors; they were practically born and raised on horseback and were infamously skilled with the bow. At the time, they constructed the most formidable and effective war mechanism the contemporary world had ever seen, through intense discipline and intimidation. The carnage and destruction they caused throughout the land was legendary, and fear was instilled in the hearts of every civilization in proximity to their ever expanding empire. Though it is hard to believe, the Mongols also had a soft side, and were not the ruthless, ignorant warriors they were thought to be by their contemporaries. In fact, their influences reverberated throughout most of the civilized world, affecting both the Islamic world and Western Europe in both positive and negative manners. The first encounter the Islamic world experienced with the Mongols happened under the Mongol Khan Ogedei. He succeeded in leading invasions and conquering the Khwarizmian Empire. The next encounter happened under the great Mongol Khan Hulegu, the grandson of Chinggis Khan, and this time the Abassid Empire was suppressed and taken. This happened in 1258 when the Islamic center of power and the seat of the caliphate, Baghdad, was besieged and overrun by Mongol forces. This was a huge loss and great setback to the Islamic world. Further Mongol incursions were halted by the Mamluks who defeated them. Because of the Mongols, Islam ceased to be a central power in the eyes of their contemporaries, and definitely declined in worldly status. However, under Kubilai Khan, Islam regained some of its prestige back.

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