Podcast Summary: Dan Snow's History Hit - "How the Mongols Changed the World"

Release Date: December 20, 2024

In the episode titled "How the Mongols Changed the World," historian Dan Snow delves into the expansive and enduring legacy of the Mongol Empire. Featuring an insightful interview with Marie Favreau, Associate Professor of History at Paris and Ontario University, the discussion sheds light on the often overlooked western segment of the Mongol Empire and its profound impact on Eurasian history.

1. Introduction to the Mongol Empire

Dan Snow sets the stage by highlighting the unprecedented expanse of the Mongol Empire, which stretched from Korea to Poland and down into China and South Asia. He introduces Marie Favreau’s work, emphasizing her focus on how the Mongols administered their vast territories beyond their initial conquests.

Dan Snow [01:30]: "The Mongols built an empire that stretched from Korea to Poland down into China and South Asia. It is one of the most extraordinary imperial stories in our history."

2. The Western Mongol Empire

Marie Favreau elaborates on the western portion of the Mongol Empire, encompassing regions of modern-day Russia, southern Siberia, southern Caucasus, and parts of Eastern Europe. She underscores the significance of this segment, which is less frequently discussed in mainstream historiography.

Marie Favreau [02:38]: "We are looking at the western part of the Mongol Empire, and it covers what is Russia today, including southern Siberia and also including southern Caucasus and part of Eastern Europe."

3. The Mongols in European History

Favreau connects the Mongol Empire to European historical developments, challenging the Eurocentric view that often sidelines Asian influences. She emphasizes the integral role the Mongols played in facilitating trade and cultural exchanges between East and West.

Marie Favreau [03:10]: "The Mongol Empire is also connected to European history, and this is something we're not used to know. This was a key aspect of the trade connection of the Mongols with the outside world through Europe."

4. Reevaluating Mongol Historiography

Addressing the traditional portrayal of the Mongols, Favreau argues that historiography has unfairly marginalized their contributions. She points out that the Mongol Empire’s administrative sophistication and longevity have often been underestimated.

Marie Favreau [03:52]: "The historiography wasn't fair to the Mongols. Their empire was seen as a short moment, like huge but short in time and not well developed in terms of administration."

5. Mongol Conquests and Military Prowess

While acknowledging the Mongols' reputation as formidable warriors, Favreau highlights their strategic ingenuity in governance. They employed indirect control mechanisms, taxation, and administrative tools to manage their vast empire despite not being numerically superior to sedentary populations.

Marie Favreau [05:21]: "They would have a very indirect way of controlling access to the resources. They developed tools like taxation and administrative tools as well. So it's not only about war."

6. Administration and Governance Post-Conquest

Favreau discusses the unique nature of Mongol governance, characterized by their nomadic lifestyle which facilitated mobility and flexibility in administration. The Mongols maintained control through strategies that emphasized indirect governance and the integration of local leaders.

Marie Favreau [06:20]: "This was nomadic power. The Mongols would never sedentarize. They remained nomads, which gave them a lot of mobility and the ability to cross huge rivers."

7. Trade and the Pax Mongolica

Drawing parallels to the Pax Romana, Favreau introduces the concept of "Pax Mongolica," a period of relative peace that enabled extensive trade and cultural exchanges across Eurasia. She describes this era as a form of pre-modern globalization, with the Mongols establishing vast trade networks that extended even into Northern Europe.

Marie Favreau [07:52]: "I like the word actually Mongol exchange, which I use in my book. It's a big moment of globalization, pre-modern globalization, but it goes beyond the frontiers of the Mongol Empire and reaches Northern Europe as well."

8. The Organization of Nomadic Camps

Contrary to the stereotypical image of chaotic hordes, Favreau portrays Mongol camps as highly organized "mobile cities." These camps were multifunctional, housing not just warriors but also families, administrators, craftsmen, and marketplaces, underscoring the sophisticated social structure of the Mongol Empire.

Marie Favreau [09:18]: "They were extremely organized. A lot of discipline can be seen in these camps. They are not only for armies but are more like mobile cities with women, children, administration, craftsmanship, and markets."

9. Mobility and Communication: The Yam System

Favreau explains the dual nature of Mongol mobility—seasonal movements and the efficient Yam system, an intricate network of relay posts that facilitated rapid communication across the empire. This system enabled messengers and ambassadors to traverse vast distances swiftly, ensuring cohesive governance and information flow.

Marie Favreau [10:43]: "They organized what we call the yam system, a very complex posts and supply system that would allow horsemen to cross the whole empire quickly."

10. Relations with Europe and the Western Frontier

The discussion shifts to the Mongols' interactions with European regions such as Poland and Lithuania. Favreau highlights the dual nature of these relationships, encompassing trade partnerships and occasional tensions, positioned around the Northwestern frontiers near the Black Sea steppe.

Marie Favreau [17:03]: "They have had a lot of deep relationship with the Mongols. They trade together and there were tensions sometimes too. The frontier was around what is Bulgaria today."

11. Communication Across the Empire

Favreau provides insights into the logistics of communication within the empire, estimating that messages could traverse from Crimea to the lower Volga Valley in about one and a half to two months, and from Central Asia to China via land routes in approximately six months. She speculates that secret messengers might have achieved faster transit times.

Marie Favreau [18:27]: "It took around a month and a half, perhaps two months to send messages across the empire... They were among the faster horsemen at that time."

12. Revisiting Historical Sources and Research Methodology

Favreau outlines her research approach, which combines traditional written sources with archaeological findings and firsthand exploration of Mongol territories. This holistic methodology has enabled her to uncover new perspectives on the Mongol Empire's administrative and geographical strategies.

Marie Favreau [20:04]: "I looked into written texts produced by the Mongols themselves. I also looked at coinage as objects, archaeology, and landscape. Visiting the Volga Valley and Crimea changed my view of their organization."

13. Overcoming Eurocentric Narratives

Favreau critiques the Eurocentric narratives that have historically downplayed the Mongols' role in Eurasian history. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing the Mongols as sophisticated administrators and city builders who successfully integrated sedentary populations into their empire.

Marie Favreau [22:04]: "With the Mongols, I could demonstrate that they were also city builders. They were able, through their imperial organization, to accommodate sedentary communities."

14. Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of the Mongols

The episode concludes with an appreciation of Favreau's contributions to recontextualizing the Mongol Empire. Her work challenges preconceived notions and highlights the Mongols' significant role in shaping the historical and cultural landscapes of Eurasia.

Dan Snow [22:53]: "Thank you very much for talking to us."

Notable Quotes

• Dan Snow [01:30]: "The Mongols built an empire that stretched from Korea to Poland down into China and South Asia. It is one of the most extraordinary imperial stories in our history."

• Marie Favreau [03:52]: "The historiography wasn't fair to the Mongols. Their empire was seen as a short moment, like huge but short in time and not well developed in terms of administration."

• Marie Favreau [09:18]: "They were extremely organized. A lot of discipline can be seen in these camps. They are not only for armies but are more like mobile cities with women, children, administration, craftsmanship, and markets."

• Marie Favreau [20:04]: "I looked into written texts produced by the Mongols themselves. I also looked at coinage as objects, archaeology, and landscape. Visiting the Volga Valley and Crimea changed my view of their organization."

Final Thoughts

This episode of Dan Snow's History Hit offers a comprehensive reevaluation of the Mongol Empire, particularly its western territories. Marie Favreau's research illuminates the sophisticated administrative practices, extensive trade networks, and organized societal structures that enabled the Mongols to sustain one of history's largest empires. Listeners gain a nuanced understanding of how the Mongols not only conquered vast lands but also integrated diverse cultures, fostering a legacy that continues to influence the modern world.