The Mongol army in the 13th century was composed of skilled horsemen and agile soldiers. They utilized advanced battle tactics like using spies to gather intelligence, catapulting projectiles over walls, damming rivers to flood towns, and feigned retreats. The Mongols also had effective weapons at their disposal such as bows and arrows, sabers for close combat, trebuchets for breaching walls, and triple-bow siege crossbows. Through superior tactics and weaponry, the Mongol army was able to dominate militarily despite their small size.

1. MONGOLS
KAITLYN GRANGE
11/21/14
War Tactics and Weapons in the 13th Century

2. In the 13th century, the Mongol
Army generals were brilliant
tacticians. It was composed of
skilled horsemen, and quick,
nimble soldiers, who had many
battle tactics, and weapons.

3. Some of the battle tactics that are used are spy
networks, catapulting, damming, lighting, isolating, and
coordinated attacks.

4. Spy Networking was a Mongol Army battle tactic. They had spies that
spent months before an attack scouting defenses, mapping roads and
escape routes, noting supply sources, and gathering intelligence on
local defense and infrastructure.

5. Catapulting was a battle tactic that shot large stones,
diseased animals, and flaming bombs over the walls of
opposing armies.

6. Another battle tactic
is something called
damming. Damming is
when the army
reroutes a stream
causing the town to
flood.

7. Lighting was a very intelligent battle tactic. They lit extra
campfires and placed straw soldiers on extra horses to
make the Mongol army appear larger than it actually was.

8. Isolating is when the Mongols isolate
the city and cutoff supplies to starve
inhabitants.

9. Coordinated attacks that took place included ambush, hit-and-
run, and wave attacks. One of the most successful
strategies was the feigned retreat, in which Khan Genghis’s
troops would fake defeat and run, only to turn on pursuing
enemies.

10. Not only did the Mongols have
powerful battle tactics, but
also had useful weapons that
helped them in battle. Some of
the weapons that were used
were, bows, arrows, quivers,
sabers, trebuchet, and triple-bow
siege crossbow.

11. Bows, arrows, and quivers were used in the 13th century by the
Mongols. These were the Mongol warrior’s principle weapon. It could
contain armor-piercing arrows, flaming arrows, or ones that made a
whistling sound to striker terror in their human targets.

12. Another weapon that was used in times of war is the saber.
It was used for close combat, made from iron, and very
lightweight.

13. The Mongols adapted this trebuchet from the Chinese and used it
against cities that had large, tall walls. It is a variation of the
catapult, that heaves a projectile at the enemy.

14. The Triple-bow Siege Crossbow is a Chinese artillery for Mongol
armies. These weapons could shoot large arrows, including incendiary
arrows with a burning tip, hundreds of yards.

15. The Mongol army was the dominant military force of the 13th century
and wasn’t very large. They relied on superior tactics, powerful
weapons, and speed.

16. WORKS CITED
"Battle Tactics." Genghis Khan. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.
<http://genghiskhan.fieldmuseum.org/behind-the-scenes/establishing-an-empire/battle-tactics>.
N.p., n.d. Web. <http%3A%2F%2Fgenghiskhan.fieldmuseum.org%2Fexplore%2Fphoto-gallery%
2Fweapons>.
"Battle Tactics." Genghis Khan. N.p., n.d.Web. 21 Nov. 2014.
<http://genghiskhan.fieldmuseum.org/behind-the-scenes/establishing-an-empire/battle-tactics>.