this post was submitted on 25 Sep 2024
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[–] [email protected] 128 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Ah yes, mongols, known for their gentle and easy going temperament.

[–] [email protected] 66 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

When it comes to religion, yes. When it comes to governance, lol

[–] [email protected] 28 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

(As per K&G youtube channel) I learned that when it comes to believe system, the Mongols believe that everyone worships the same god, Tengri, but in varied way in every culture/religion they encounter.

They believe that as long as everyone submit themselves under the Mongol rule, it means they obey Tengri/Mongolian god.

There are various religious communities inside the empire but they also don't bother to do the worst thing possible to obliterate anyone who doesn't submit to Mongol, regardless their believe.

But I think in a smaller level it's also not as simple/straightforward as that. Mongolian Shamans also known to have conflicts with the Khan. Sometimes the Khan kept asking the Shamans to do a ritual over and over again until the result aligns with the Khan's desire. Or sometimes the Shaman (being a regarded class in their society) have their own political motive to do something against the Khan.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 weeks ago

Also known for inventing the phrase "lend me your ear".

[–] [email protected] 94 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Is this...Mongolian propaganda? Because the Kahns definitely did a whole lot of subjugating, raping and murdering. Not sure that really fits the "coexist" meme...

[–] [email protected] 78 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

The meme format doesn't really work, but the joke they're trying to make is that even though they did all these terrible things, it was never because of religion. In fact, they just didn't give a fuck in what you believed in. Genghis even allowed religious figures to be exempt from taxation.

[–] [email protected] 48 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

And let's be honest: the Mongolians were probably not worse than any other invader. War, destruction, looting and raping is kind of par for the course for most civilizations in history.

[–] [email protected] 36 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Honestly from the limited knowledge I have, Mongolians seemed to be the one of the chillest of invaders. They gave you a clear choice, let us rule you or die. And once they ruled you they allowed many freedoms that crusaders and colonizers didn't. Their tactics were brutal and I think that's why people see them as so evil.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Mongolians seemed to be the one of the chillest of invaders.

Literal mountains of skulls...

[–] [email protected] 16 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

For every mountain of skulls there were 10 villages that decided Mongolian rule wasn't so bad.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago

...in comparison to the mountain of skulls, that were likely raped before they died.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

The Skull Throne ain't gonna build itself

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago

TBF, the Mongolian invasions are literally what gave birth to Khorne

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago

Mongolians were the OG (original grimdark)

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[–] [email protected] 82 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

Modern Mongolia, perhaps. The Golden Horde of Genghis Khan was not so tolerant!

[–] [email protected] 70 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Yes, they were. Genghis' Mongols didn't generally force religious change in the people who they subjugated.

[–] [email protected] 47 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

It's actually a cool belief system from what I've read, known as Tengriism; they had their own beliefs but (and I hope I have this right) that whatever religious worldview prevailed locally was considered not just valid as a personal or cultural expression, but actually metaphysically true as well. That seems fantastic, doesn't it? Patchwork metaphysics.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I’m not an expert but from what I’ve read most ancient world deities were attached to certain geographies (it would be reasonable to sort of leave the boundaries of your gods) so I wonder if this comes from that tradition. The roman catholics sure successfully weaponized monotheism.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

That’s one way. Another was syncretism. The Romans famously stole the Greek gods, but they also worshipped isis for example. “That god resonates with me, so sure why not”.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I just love how fun it would be to believe that yes, god is the Creator of the Cosmos and he lives in the sky, I have a rich cosmogony that tries to explain the Universe and Everything...But also, if you cross that mountain to the west and traverse the river beyond, them you'll be in another part of our empire where the universe was created by the boogers of a Titan or something like that I was too busy picking up my arrows to listen. Bless them.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

Yeah that era must’ve been weird. I mostly know of the era of antiquity where “these strange people say the god of medicine is the husband of the Queen of the Dead, but we all know he’s a moon god.”

[–] [email protected] 37 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Provided you paid your tribute and obeyed the Khan's laws they were cool with just about everyone. Fail to do either of those things and you're in for a bad time.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

I mean pretty consistent with today’s neoliberal values:

It’s okay to exploit people as long as we don’t discriminate.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago

The neoliberals of the 13th and 14th century

[–] [email protected] 29 points 3 weeks ago

The way I hear it told, Genghis Khan liked all types of women. 😉

[–] [email protected] 24 points 3 weeks ago

It was mixed. Their subjects were more free to travel, practise religions, and generally exist within the empire than without it. It was just that transition. The Mongols liked to do things the easy way, or the really easy way.

[–] [email protected] 44 points 3 weeks ago

Genghis Khan: Are you good at killing and terrorizing my enemies? Yes? Ok, see those fuckers over there? Conquer them. I don't care how. Burn it all down. Re-route an entire river. I just want them paying tribute.

[–] [email protected] 39 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

I find it interesting how the Mongolian empire has kind of taken a 180 in its historical image. Not long ago they were viewed as just cartoon villains that destroyed everything. But now you see so many people talking about some of the "good" aspects that it almost makes them seem strangely benevolent.

The reality of course was that they were an empire, and like all empires they steamrolled and destroyed anything that stood in their way while taking advantage of anything that furthered their goals. They probably killed far more people than they helped if you asked anyone living through the time.

Dan Carlin's podcast, Hardcore History, has a series called Wrath of the Khans where he talks about this in length and it's very interesting to think about.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

from my understanding , it's a chain of

You see that village over there? they resisted. we burnt everything , killed every man and child, and raped all the women.

See the other village over there? they joined us, and we gave them access to goods from across the world, the latest technology and treat them better than their previous rulers.

Your choice.

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[–] [email protected] 23 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

When people think about Rome they usually imagine the roads and the aquaducts and not so much the crucifixions and the slavery.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

Yeah, the Mongolians front-loaded most of their atrocities. Rome was more of a slow burn

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 weeks ago

Rome was both. The mongols raped and slaughtered. The Romans were too civilized to do that as much, instead they just enslaved some of your village so they could die in the mines or fields or construction projects. And then there’s the internal atrocities. Rome had three servile wars and then without easing up even a bit never had another.

The Kahns were more like the Shahs, conqueror emperors seeking to hold the great titles of the world like emperor of China or pharaoh and in doing so became one. The Romans were like America “we’re different snd our own thing” before being a different kind of brutal

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Well, they might imagine one specific crucifixion

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

Strangely enough I feel like that crucification isn't much associated with the Romans. Even though the Romans were the ones who carried it out Judas gets almost 100% of the ire.

Even Jews are given more blame by antisemitic Christians. Like, no one is starting up a pogrom against Italians because their great great great grandpa might've been the guy who stabbed Jesus in the ribs.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago

Theologically, all mankind was to blame because of their sins.

But it's far easier to blame a minority and it had the added benefit of pushing whatever agenda the ruling class had.

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[–] [email protected] 32 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

China doesn't want friends. That's why they built a wall to keep those friendly Mongols out.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 3 weeks ago

God damn Mongolians keep breaking down my city wall!!

[–] [email protected] 22 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

They were also great environmentalists who did a lot to fight global warming.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 weeks ago

And overpopulation!

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

Not with the owner of City Wok!

Or Jin Sakai.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Ghost of Sushi is such a masterpiece magnum opus of an amazing fucking game.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I can’t wait for Ghost of Sushi 2: Nigiri wa oishii desu

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 weeks ago

So, that's a honey badger in a capy disguise?

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Atheists: Us too, right?…

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

As long as you pay them tribute, they don't give a fuck.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 weeks ago

Why are they so wonderful?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago

China enters the chat

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