A Mongol Military Revolution?

What are the origins of Temüjin, the man who would become the legendary Chinggis Khan? How did he establish his dominion over the Mongolian plateau? Who resisted, and what happened to those who tried? In this talk, Dr Timothy May introduces the history of steppe warfare before and after the rise of Chinggis Khan. Using the battle of Chakirma’ut as the primary focal point, Dr May shines a light on the last major battle between the Mongols and the Naiman and their allies (those who resisted Chinggis Khan) to illustrate the military reforms carried out by the Mongolian leader, and how these helped him defeat other nomad groups.

This talk also explores the idea of whether the Mongols initiated a military revolution or if it was simply a matter of being slightly more innovative, better, and perhaps slightly luckier than his opponents.

This lecture will be on-line only. It will be live streamed in the War Cinema at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds.

Image: Mace with a spherical metal head and pommel damascened with leaves and flowers in silver, mounted on a wooden haft covered in ray skin. About 13th - early 14th century, possibly Yuan dynasty, Mongolian or Chinese. XXVIC.82 Royal Armouries.