Reading the empire novels of Conn Iggulden and the history
of Marco Polo’s odyssey interests me more on how the Khans emerge as an empire
and their short influence in the global civilization and politics. Reading the “Bones of the Hills” and “Empire
of Silver” amused more of my imagination that during the rise and dominance of
the Khans in Asia other regions of the world also recognize their military
might and influence. Their conquest reaches to the Arab countries, Russia, and
other parts of Europe. During the time of the Khans military power in Asia many
of their conquest adventures differ differently with the Romans during the time
of Pax Romana. The other book of Conn
Iggulden the Empire which portrays the story of Ceasar in Rome that I discussed
in my previous blogs (http://ryansinnovativeideas.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-blood-of-gods-that-save-land-from.html)
shows how the Romans differ in their military organization
and engineering. Obviously, Roman military are famous with their Legion of
armies classified in different military skills and abilities. In short, knowledge and tactical skills in
military at that time are encouraged to win wars across the globe.
During the Roman conquest scholars and scribes are a huge
part of the conquest of new regions of the earth. In short education and
knowledge are a necessity in winning wars.
On the contrary the Egyptians during the time of the Pharaoh’s encourage
engineers to participate in the building of infrastructure and designing
innovative chariots to make the military fighting for light and fast. Across
the globe from the Romans, Ottomans, Syrians, & Egyptians they are all
interested in finding new innovation and technology to win wars. Thus, during the war in world war 2 rapid technology
advancement with the help of commerce advances the usage of Iron minerals that
in a negative side of the history the world supply of metal at that time is
becoming scarce and expensive. Just
imagine how many units of military tanks the US allied forces and the Germans
are making during that time. Indeed,
during the time of Silver discovery in the time of the Khans Silver is used to
advance the weaponry of the Khans. But
those knowledge acquired did not originated from the Khan Empire but from the
immigrants and engineers somewhere from Syria and other Asia Minor
countries. Thus, the knowledge of Marco
Polo is well appreciated by the Khans of Khans.
Part of the novel of Conn Iggulden that interest me the most is the part
when the Mongols start to expand their conquest in the Arab countries. At this time, they were able to reach the
secret garden of eden which I presume that they reach Jerusalem in conquering
nations. At this time as well the Assassins
and the Roman knights are also struggling to acquire by means of hand to hand
combat in getting the “apple” of eden which they think it will give eternal
life. During this time the ability and
skills of the Mongol armies are tested and compared with the Arabian knights
and Assassins. And according to the
revelation they did not succeeded in their conquest. On the contrary their trip to Russia tested
their physical strength and military muscle but with the different strategy of
the Russians they were alienated with all their military tactical skills
considering the new terrains and landscape in Russia. Indeed, their dominance
in Russia did not penetrated the general population of the vast land of
Russia. I was so dismayed that during
the rise of the Mongols they did not even got a part of the land of Europe or
the Middle East. For me they are just wasting
their time and energy in travelling to the East and North without any conquered
civilization. Unlike the Romans during
the time of Ceasar. So what could be the
reason why the Mongols did not even conquered mainland China? Is it because
they lack military wisdom and follow their emotional kinship from the linage of
Yesugei, Genghis Khan, Jochi, Chagatai, Ogedei Khan, & Tolui? All their foreign military operations are
contradicting compared to the advance militaries of the Romans, Russians and
the Syrians. At this time Leonardo is actively
inventing new machines that will empower the military of Italy but Leonardo’s
Imagination sky rocket to the heavens that innovation blossom as to the gun powder
and military machines of Niccolo Machiavelli.
The partnership of Leonardo and Machiavelli cannot be compared to the Kinship
and foreign military operation and diplomacy of the Mongols.
During the time when they reach the secret garden of Eden
they did not even question why everyone from every corners of the earth wants
to invade and conquer the garden of eden.
The story is even unbelievable, but everyone is wanting to get the
knowledge and everlasting life of eden. Even the Assassins are giving all their
lives just to get the apple in Jerusalem.
But what the Mongols did is they are all strucked with the new skills of
their enemies specifically the Assassins in middle east. But I admired the brilliance of Da Vince unlike
Genghis who is always ready for war, Da Vince and the army of Niccolo Machiavelli are connecting the
relevance of the new discoveries of Leonardo to the different kinds of military
tactics from the different armies around the world. Their war with the Syrians cannot be compared
with the exploratory wars of the Mongols when they attacked middle east and
Russia. The intellectual help of Marco
Polo to the Khans of Khans can’t be compared to the organized knowledge of Da
Vinci and Niccolo Machiavelli. Da Vinci
is funned of imagination and apply the imagination to the new innovation for their
new military machines. Even the later
scientist Albert Einstein says that “The true sign of intelligence is not
knowledge but imagination”. In the
context of the Mongol empire they lack imagination and how they will
conceptualize the geo politics of the world.
Thus, Khan always ask Marco Polo about all the narrative pictures that
Marco travelled from Europe passing central Asia and the Empire of the
Khans. Moreover, when they reach garden
of eden in Jerusalem the Mongols imagination did not connect as to how the
place can add to their world dominance if they invaded the place. Altair in
Assassins Creed put all his life the and the life of his family just to get the
apple of Eden but when the Mongols came it seems that they did not savor the
moment but instead they feel home sick and went home to their land in Asia. Another
thing that war skills and knowledge are measured during the time of the Khans
is by way defeating a beast with an artistic strokes of their swords. Those
artistic way of defining a good warrior can’t be measured compared to what
Florence is doing toward their counterparts.
Another thing why the Mongol failed their conquest is their
art of diplomacy. Every time they travel for conquest and war they don’t have
any formal diplomatic entourage and men to right away created the diplomatic change
in the region. Unlike the Romans during the Pax Romana. Or the conquest of Napoleon, they have in
mind the strategy how to rehabilitate the society by means of education and medical
programs for example. The Spanish who
came in America and Asia for example smartly change the names of the family names
of the general public names to a more Spanish tone of names. Streets named
after Spanish words and even education are all patterned in Spanish curriculum. But look back during the time of the Mongols
they don’t have these kinds of expertise to change the minds of the new
conquered land. The best invasion is not
by war but by diplomacy. Look at America
today, their smart invasion strategy is more on a diplomatic style that one
must submit without any remorse. Gone
are those days that the Khans must use their Silver Swords and intimidate their
enemies with hanging human heads in their horses. What we need today is invasion by diplomacy. Many countries today won wars by diplomacy and
diplomacy is always a win-win solution I should say. As to Leonardo, imagining all the variables
of the ecosystem is relevant in conquering nations. Even to his love with
Lucrezia, he needs a vivid imagination to fully understand the woman’s desires
and thinking connected to her political motives in Florence. What is really the role of Lucrezia to the whole
politics of Italy? Do you think she is just plainly in love with Leonardo or there
are more to that? Why the Khans did not succeed
in their world conquest? is it because they lack imagination, or it is because
of their military administration?
“Imagination will take you everywhere” Albert Einstein
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