Genghis Khan

We went to see the Genghis Khan exhibit today at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. It was really interesting, but probably even more so since both Mackay and I read a short overview of him before we went. Pretty basic, but it covered the essentials.

Genghis Khan was either a before-the-times statesman who unified the Mongol tribes, introducing a law system, a written language, and even passports to ensure security and safe passage, or a ruthless war tyrant, wiping out thousands and the mention of his name invoked fear.

Things we thought were interesting:

-His father was poisoned by the Tatar tribe. Since he didn't want to die from poison, he only drank from stainless steel bowls. If there was any acidity in the liquid, the cup would change color. It turns it black. Pretty clever. My rotary cutter blade got shampoo on it, and it turned it black. We couldn't figure out why until now.

-Whistling arrows were used to shoot over the enemies to freak them out. The military steppe warfare used was so far ahead of any competition. It is no wonder that Genghis Khan's warriors easily wiped out everyone. It was the siege warfare that caused them trouble.

-There was a stone tablet with Genghis Khan's name in the left corner. The tablet told of Essunge who hit a target at a distance of 440 yards...that's 1/4 of a mile.

-The Mongols were well known for their archery and their horseback riding. Their bows could shoot 100 yards farther than the English long bows. Also, their saddles were set up so they could shoot backwards and their stirrups were larger and flat on the bottom so they could stand up and rotate in them.

-One of Genghis Khan's generals, Subetai, overtook Russia in winter. That was the downfall of Nazi Germany...and they had tanks!

-Genghis Khan set up the system of paizia, or passports. If you had a bronze, silver, or gold passport, you were guaranteed safe passage throughout the area. Oh yeah, and Marco Polo was given a gold paizia during Kubla Khan's reign.

-Every time Genghis Khan returned from battle, he brought a new wife/concubine. They've done extensive DNA-testing to show that 1 out of every 200 males is a direct male descendant of Genghis Khan.

-He introduced a written language, even though he couldn't read. He also established the rule of law. Before Genghis Khan, the rule was essentially, if you want it and could take it, it was yours. Wife-snatching and child slavery were very common because of this. He created the Yassa, a code. Yasa means order or decree. These were some of our favorites:

Whoever takes goods (on credit) and becomes bankrupt, then again takes goods and again becomes bankrupt, then takes goods again and yet again becomes bankrupt is to be put to death after the third time.

He ordered that all religions were to be respected and that no preference was to be shown to any of them. All this he commanded in order that it might be agreeable to Heaven.

He forbade them to wash their clothes until they were completely worn out.

The Yasa of Chingis Khan forbids lies, theft and adultery and prescribes love of one's neighbor as one's self; it orders men not to hurt each other and to forget offences completely, to spare countries and cities which submit voluntarily, to free from taxes temples consecrated to God, and to respect old people and beggars. Whoever violates these commands is to be put to death.

Obviously the 10 commandments had some kind of influence.

It was REALLY cool. If you are in Denver, come check it out. It's here through the first week of February.