Excerpt from Korea: The Mongol Invasions Events of the past decade have once again placed the Korean peninsula in the position of a buffer state where the wars of greater powers are focused. Historians will recall that Korea has had this role thrust upon her many times before. In recent times the peninsula was the battleground for the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 while the opening battle of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, a naval action, took place off the present port of Inch'ŏn. As a result, a number of studies of the various aspects of modern Korean society, particularly in its contacts with the West, have been undertaken but little attention has been given to the evolution of that society. Yet it is only when this is studied for each period in Korean history that studies of contemporary Korean society can be approached in other than a limited sense. The period encompassing the Mongol invasions of the thirteenth century and the subsequent establishment of Mongol military-administrative organs on the Korean peninsula was one of the important phases of transition in Korean history. The development of any society is, of course, continuous, but for the purposes of study I have found it convenient to treat the subject at hand in two natural divisions. The Mongol invasions of Korea in the thirteenth century as a development in Korean history form the subject of the present study. It is my intention to treat, in a separate work, the full extension of Mongol control in Korea which followed the period of conquest and with which I have dealt only summarily if at all in these pages. For the period covered I have, however, considered the question of the form and nature of Mongol demands upon Koryŏ as well as the implementation of these demands as an illustration of Mongol methods of establishing control in and extracting wealth from conquered nations. The reciprocal of this was the Koryŏ response to Mongol demands and pressures which was obviously limited and guided by her internal situation as well as her external relations. The Mongol conquest and subsequent occupation of Koryŏ represent but one phase in the development of the Mongol empire and in many respects the least known phase. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Korea

"By far the best modern narrative account of the most extensive land empire in the history of the world."—David Morgan, author of The Mongols

The History of the Mongol Conquests

The epic tale of how the samurai warriors of Japan fended off the Mongol armada in 1274 and again in 1281 has all the ingredients of a compelling thriller: political intrigue, shifting alliances, espionage, damsels in distress, heroic warriors, courageous leaders, and even divine intervention. Fans of the anime series Angolmois: Record of Mongol Invasion, as well as the video game Ghost of Tsushima, will be particularly interested in the real adventure behind them presented here. This is a completely revised version of Nakaba Yamada’s 1916 Ghenko: The Mongol Invasion of Japan edited for easy reading among modern audiences, featuring updated maps and graphics. It is a must for Japanophiles, samurai enthusiasts, martial artists, military historians, and history buffs alike.

Genkō Kassenki

“A scholarly, detailed history of how the Mongols created the greatest landlocked empire in history” (Midwest Book Review). The Mongols created the greatest landlocked empire known to history. It was an empire created and sustained by means of conquest. Initially an insignificant tribal leader, Genghis Khan gradually increased his power, overcoming one rival after another. After he had subjugated all tribes of Inner Asia, he struck southward into China and later attacked distant Khwarizm in the Near East. Sübe’etei continued to make significant conquests after Genghis Khan died, conquering central China and leading a large force into the heart of Europe. Between them, Genghis Khan and Sube’etei directed more than 40 campaigns, fought more than 60 battles, and conquered all lands from Korea in the east to Hungary and Poland in the west. This book offers a detailed narrative of the military operations of these two leaders, based on early Mongolian, Chinese, Near Eastern, and European sources. Making full use of Chinese sourced not translated properly into any European language, the account offer details never before given in English works. Detailed maps showing the operations support the text. Many conventional wisdom views of the Mongols, such as their use of terror as a deliberate strategy, or their excellence at siege warfare, are shown to be incorrect. This is a major contribution to our knowledge of the Mongols and their way of warfare. “History is littered with great leaders leading great armies and conquering large swathes of the world—Attila the Hun, Alexander the Great, the Roman Empire . . . but none perhaps as staggering as that of Genghis Khan. I have never heard of Sube’etei, I’m ashamed to say, until now, in this excellent book by Carl Fredrik Sverdrup. Asian history has never particularly appealed to me, but this is big history, and the author’s style makes it compelling and readable.” —Books Monthly “This is a very valuable addition to the literature on the Mongol conquests, giving us a much clearer idea of the detailed course of their campaigns, the world in which they took place, and the methods used to win them.” —History of War

The Mongol Conquests

First published in 2004. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Genghis Khan & the Mongol Conquests, 1190-1400

The history of the Mongol conquests is a catalogue of superlatives. No army in the world has ever conquered so much territory, and few armies have provoked such terror as the Mongol hordes. So vast was the extent of the Mongol Empire that the samurai of Japan and the Teutonic Knights of Prussia had each fought the same enemy while being unaware of each other's existence. This book provides a concise yet thorough account of the Mongol conquests, including the rise of Genghis Khan and the unification of the tribes with up to date information on campaign logistics, tactics and horse breeding.

Genghis Khan & the Mongol Conquests 1190–1400

This accessible collection examines twelve historic events in the international relations of East Asia.

East Asia in the World

The renowned historian “combines exhaustive research and accessible prose for this . . . definitive study” of the Mongol empire’s military practices (Publishers Weekly). The armies of the Mongol empire are one of the most successful, yet least understood, military forces in history. Often viewed as screaming throngs of horsemen who conquered by sheer force of numbers, they were in fact highly organized regiments who blindsided their opponents with innovative tactics and combat skills. Through the leadership of brilliant military strategists, they achieved the largest land empire ever established, stretching across Asia and into eastern Europe. In this pioneering study, historian Timothy May demonstrates how the Mongol military developed from a tribal levy into a disciplined and complex military organization. He describes the make-up of the Mongol army from its inception to the demise of the empire. With profiles of Mongol military leaders such as Chinggis Khan—also known as Genghis Khan—May shows how their strength, quality and versatility made them the pre-eminent warriors of their time.

The Mongol Art of War

The Mongol warriors are one of the great success stories of world military history. Under the leadership of Genghis Khan and his successors the Mongols conquered much of the known world, fighting in territory ranging from the frozen steppes, the wilderness of Palestine, the jungles of Java and the great rivers of China. Through all this they showed a remarkable ability to adopt, adapt and improve a vast range of military techniques and technology, from siege weapons to naval warfare. This book tells the story of this remarkable military organisation, including details of weaponry, tactics, training and beliefs.

Mongol Warrior 1200–1350

The Mongol Invasions of Korea

The Mongol Invasions of Korea, occurring in the 13th century, marked a pivotal chapter in Korean history. These campaigns, led by the Mongol Empire, brought significant political and cultural changes to the Korean Peninsula. Despite initial resistance, Korea ultimately submitted to Mongol rule, resulting in the formation of the Goryeo Dynasty as a vassal state to the Mongols. This period saw the introduction of various Mongol administrative and military practices, as well as cultural exchanges that influenced Korean society. The invasions left a lasting impact on Korean identity and governance, underscoring the complex interplay between regional powers and their enduring legacies in East Asian history.