Rise

The Mongols rose to power because they had one of the fastest and smartest armies in history. From a very young age, Mongol children learned how to ride animals. They often started by riding on the backs of goats, which helped them learn balance and control. As they grew older, they moved on to horses and became expert riders.

The Mongol army was famous for its powerful bow. This bow was made from layers of wood, bone, and animal sinew, making it small but very strong. Mongol soldiers could shoot arrows far and accurately, even while riding at full speed. This gave them a huge advantage over enemies who fought on foot.

The Mongols used clever battle tricks. One famous trick was the fake retreat. They would pretend to run away, making the enemy chase them. When the enemy army became spread out and tired, the Mongols would suddenly turn around and attack, surrounding and defeating them.

They also used psychological warfare, which means winning by frightening the enemy. For example, the Mongols sometimes sent messages ahead, warning cities that if they did not surrender, they would be destroyed. If one city resisted and lost, nearby cities often surrendered right away out of fear. This allowed the Mongols to win battles without even fighting.

During sieges, the Mongols were very creative. They sometimes redirected rivers to flood castles or cut off water supplies. Mongol soldiers wore silk clothing under their armor, which helped protect them because arrows were easier to pull out and caused less damage. Each soldier also used many horses, switching between them so they could travel very long distances without stopping.

Because of their speed, smart planning, and fear tactics, the Mongols defeated much larger armies and built the largest land empire in history.