Greetings Delegates,
I could not be more excited to welcome you to Gatormun XII. My name is Matthew
Smith and I will be your director for the Mongol Horde Crisis Committee. This is my third
year at the University of Florida and my last as an undergraduate student. I study History
here at UF with a focus on Germanic and Nordic culture, but my love of history first came
from reading about Genghis Khan. I am originally from Tallahassee, but have always been a
Gator as my mother graduated from here. This will be my third year in Model UN at UF and
I love every bit of it. I wasn’t aware that my high school had a Model UN team, but if I knew
I would have joined much earlier. Last year I had the honor of directing my first Gatormun
committee the US side of the JCC. It was an experience that I will treasure I discovered how
much I love to create committees and crises, but mostly how much I enjoy seeing the
creativity of students during the conference. I can’t wait to get more experience in directing
and most of all create the best committee you all have been a part of. If you have never
known what the steppe of Asia was or even who Genghis Khan was before arriving at this
year’s Gatormun, I hope you come out of this striving to know more.
The inspiration for this committee came out of the design of college crisis
committees. In so many committees I have seen people tear each other apart for their own
personal glory. I purpose a different option to this self-service. Unity for the good of the
state. The Mongol empire became the single largest continuous land empire due to two
factors: The powerful leadership of Genghis Khan and the undying loyalty of those who
followed him. The culture of the Mongol people, though they were only a collection of
different tribes, all followed a strict code of loyalty to Genghis Khan due to his liberal ideas
of mercy to his fellow Mongols instead of the fierce brutality that was the norm. In modern
times there are many different conflicts which such brutality is still the norm in a quest for
victory. As Americans we are taught that individualism is good and collectivism is bad, but
even in our own country we display collectivism for the better of the nation. Look at the
1
United States Congress which shows progress when people are unified on an issue for a
common goal and standstill when they are divided. The Mongols conquered their neighbors
and raised a massive empire because they united for this common goal of world
dominance. For this committee I ask you to tackle the issues presented as if they were
affecting the most important thing in your life, whatever that may be, in order to get that
same loyalty and emotional response as the Mongols had to their empire. These issues will
cover topics such as the powerful Chinese dynasties that are so influential to the economy
and security of the Mongols as well as the plethora of other tribes and kingdoms in the rest
of Asia and maybe Europe. What will this confederation of horse lords become? A might
empire? An economic powerhouse? A religious giant? These questions can only be
answered by what you do in committee, you are the creator of our destiny.
While this is a historical committee I do urge you to not be confided to the actual
history of the empire. What happens in committee is entirely based on the actions of the
committee and its reactions to crisis events. Delegates should be well integrated into their
positions and should try to act as close as they can to what they think their position would
do. Delegates should also be in a professional manner as the subjects will be very serious
and oftentimes life or death. Most importantly delegates should know and try to emulate
the culture of the Mongols in a religious, military or social setting, depending on their
position.
I am looking forward to seeing what the Mongol people will become at your hands
and to working with each of you. If you have any questions regarding the committee feel
free to contact me at [email protected] or if you have any questions regarding the
conference as a whole contact our secretariat at [email protected]. Best of luck and Go
Gators!
Sincerely,
Matt Smith
Director
The Mongol Horde
GatorMUN XII
2
Committee Procedure
The Mongol Horde will run as a crisis committee with a faster, more intense pace
than an assembly committee. As such parliamentary procedure will be fully in the hands of
the dais, which will have full discretion. For the most part committee will proceed using
moderated caucuses in which the dais will select speakers if they are willing to give their
opinions. This means that there will be no speakers list for the committee. Along with
moderated caucuses there will be un-moderated caucuses in which delegates have free
roam of the room and of speech.
As this is a crisis committee actions will be done through the use of committee
directives or crisis notes. A committee directive needs to have a clear stance on the issue it
is addressing with very detailed descriptions on how to deal with said issue. It will require
a particular amount of signatures that will be determined during committee based on
attendance and must be passed with a simple majority. These directives will be very
powerful and will be the main influence of the committee as a whole to the crisis staff. As
unification and cooperation will be a large part of this committee, directives will be very
important and sometimes required for major actions.
The second form of action in committee is the use of crisis notes. These notes
should be addressed to crisis along with your position’s name on the outside of the note.
Crisis notes will be very powerful as they allow the delegate to have full range of their
portfolio powers and allows them to acquire more power in and out of committee. The
success of a crisis note will be determined on the quality of information and detail given. A
simple note with a mere one sentence will be met with an equally simple answer which
might not be sufficient in information. To combat this, include intricate details on what the
position wants to do and how they will do it. Crisis notes will be very powerful so do not
take them lightly. Delegates will be expected to work with crisis to achieve their goals
outside of committee, which plays a large part in the determining of how a delegate does
overall. Make sure to keep your imagination open when writing crisis notes. Some things
will not be allowed by crisis if they are too outlandish, but creativity often warrants a
positive effect for the delegate. Remember this is the Medieval Age and there are so many
things you can do.
Another aspect of committee will be frequent interactions with guest speakers. As
this time period does not have the internet or television, these speakers will be the
committee’s main source of information regarding the outside world. These reports will
often include responses to actions taken by the committee or new crisis developments that
need to be dealt with immediately. Guest speakers will be in character so there might be
periods where events might be embellished to invoke a certain response so take reports
with a grain of salt. As there may be many different speakers and not too many staffers,
wait for them to introduce themselves as they might be a new character. The exception to
this will be myself who will be taking the role of Genghis Khan. If I come into the room as
the Great Khan himself you are to believe every word I say and act accordingly.
3
Remaining in character will be a major part of this committee. Delegates will be
expected to remain in character during the course of committee. This character should be
incorporated into speeches and crisis notes as it will make them much more interesting
and more likely to receive a positive response. I know certain delegates prefer to dress in
character to help themselves achieve full emersion. This is highly encouraged, however
delegates must remain wearing their Western Business Attire underneath. Hats will be
most welcome as long as they are time period and nomadic appropriate.
My Trusted Council,
The tribes have spoken! Many said that we could not make it to this
point and yet here we are. Keraits, Tatars, Uyghurs, Merkits, Naimans and
Mongols all call me Khan. I could not have reached this point without my
council to guide me and that is why I have summoned you here again today.
Our people recognize my right to rule these lands, yet others on this plain still
dare question my power. I require you to create a plan of action for this newly
created confederation. All will bow before the Mongols or perish.
-Temüjin; Genghis Khan
4
The Mongol Steppe
Mongol Life
The history of the Mongolian Steppe is one of division and warfare. From early on
the area has been covered with multiple nomadic tribes. These tribes wandered over the
steppe looking for grazing grounds for their herd animals. The most important animal to
Mongol life was the horse. The horse was not just a means of transportation, but also of
food and drink. Mare’s milk was often used in most Mongol meals. The most important use
of this milk was in a fermented drink
called airag. This drink was the main
beverage within all Mongol communities
aside from water.
Living arrangements for the
Mongols was very different from their
settled counterparts. Each Mongol family
would have their own small hut called a
yurt for sleeping. Yurts were mainly used
for sleep and storage as most of the day
was used to take care of herd animals on
the plains. These yurts were constructed
of a wooden frame in a circular pattern.
The wooden frame would then have a
roof put on it and covered with a felt
covering. The most important aspect of
the yurt is the ability for it to be put up and taken down incredibly fast, making the Mongols
very mobile.
Mongol tribes were often rather large, but communities could be very small with
only a few families traveling together. However these families would be a part of a greater
tribe that would unite into one force during times of war. These tribes would be led by a
khan or leader. The most prominent tribes included: Naimans, Merkits, Tatars, Khamag
Mongols and Keraits. These tribes were very large families that often intermarried, creating
confederations. The reasoning for creating such confederations was due to the fact that
Mongol tribes were almost always at odds with each other. As the horse was the most
important aspect of Mongol life, Mongols became expert horsemen. With so many warriors
on horseback, the Mongol tribes would often perform lightning fast raids on each other.
These raids were not just for resources, but also for people. A very common practice among
Mongols was the stealing of young women and taking them as wives by force. Often these
sorts of raids would continue until the rival tribe would respond with raids of their own.
Raiding turned to wars between Mongols as the whole tribe would be called together for
5
massive battles. Warfare and raids soon became the norm for the Mongols. This large
amount of conflict led to Mongol warriors becoming better and better at warfare.
Rise of Temüjin
In 1155 a boy was born to the chief Yesügei and his wife Hoelun. This boy was
named Temüjin and he would change the face of the steppe forever. Born into the old
Borjigin clan, servants of the Khamag Mongol tribe, Temüjin was raised among bloodshed
and hardship. He had three brothers and a sister along with two half-brothers. At an early
age Temüjin was betrothed to a daughter of a
different tribe. When he was still a boy his father
encountered the rival Tatar tribe. It was customary
to exchange food as a form of respect between
tribes and so the Tartars presented Yesügei with
mare’s milk. Unfortunately the milk was poisoned
and Temüjin’s father was dead. The boy tried to
assert himself as leader of the tribe, but his people
exiled him and his family instead.
For years Temüjin and his family traveled
around the wilderness, barely surviving on what
they could find. In 1177 he was captured by the
Tayichi’ud tribe. Temüjin was able to escape his
captors and met a few men, including Jelme and
Bo’orchu, who recognized his ability to assess
situations and make the most out of them. Temüjin
then went to his father’s friend Toghrul Khan of the
Kerait tribe, who realized his new leadership abilities and took him in.
As arranged by his father before his death, Temüjin married his betrothed Börte of
the Onggirat tribe. However she was then taken captive by the Merkit tribe as was
customary for Mongols. Temüjin rescued his wife with the help of Toghrul Khan and a
childhood friend and blood brother Jamukha. In 1185, nine months after her return to
Temüjin, Börte gave birth to a son, Jochi. Due to the fact that this time period suggests that
Jochi might not be Temüjin’s son, he took him in as a true son. Börte then gave birth to
Chagatai, Ögedei, and Tolui over the next few years.
With his power growing and now having valuable allies, Temüjin returned to take
control of his own tribe. They accepted him after he ousted the new khan, leading to
Temüjin finally becoming a khan in his own right. With his allies and his own tribe at his
back, Temüjin began something that the steppe had never before seen; unification.
6
Mongol Confederation and Genghis Khan
Before the rise of Temüjin there had been a few large confederations between allied
tribes. But these alliances were cemented in marriage and therefore were fragile as when
one member died, the whole confederation would cease to exist. Temüjin saw this practice
as incredibly inefficient and developed his own way to create a confederation. This would
be the use of full conquest. Before this time the Mongols would wage large-scale wars
between each other, but once the conflict reached its end the tribes would go their separate
ways. However these wars only solidified any feelings of hatred between tribes as all
captured rival warriors were put to the sword. Temüjin refused to execute so many
valuable warriors and upon defeating his first tribe, he accepted them into his own as his
sworn subjects. This mercy shown by Temüjin created a great sense of loyalty to the khan.
Word spread throughout the steppe that a young khan had conquered another tribe and
added them to his own.
By incorporating other
tribes into his own, Temüjin in
effect created his own
confederation under the guise
of a single tribe. One by one
Temüjin conquered the
surrounding tribes and gained
increasing popularity for his
actions. The Mongols respect
power over everything else and
his power had grown to an
impressive level. But with great
success comes great jealously.
Jamukha, the blood brother of
Temüjin, soon became a rival. In 1201 Jamukha had become the khan of his own tribe and
united many Mongol tribes against Temüjin. The steppe was essentially divided in two with
one side joining Temüjin and the other joining Jamukha. The two confederations fought a
bitter war in which Temüjin came out on top, defeating Jamukha many times. Eventually
Jamukha’s men betrayed him to Temüjin and gave him as a captive. Temüjin had the men
killed for their lack of loyalty and offered Jamukha peace and incorporation. Jamukha
refused the offer and was executed. With Jamukha defeated and his confederation swearing
fealty, Temüjin had become sole ruler of the Mongol steppe.
In 1206 a great collection of chiefs was called. The warriors and chiefs of the Mongol
steppe were to arrive on their horses to acknowledge Temüjin as their ruler. All who
arrived swore fealty and all who were absent were considered enemies. The tribes of the
steppe all arrived with their men and declared Temüjin their sole ruler. He was bestowed
the title “Genghis Khan,” meaning the one who rules from sea to sea. The Mongols were one
people, ruled by one confederation, led by one khan.
7
Religion
The Mongols practice Shamanism in which animals and aspects of nature are
worshiped as gods. The main deity is the Great Blue Sky or Tengri. The worship of Tengri
has led some to name the Mongol Shamanism, Tengrism. The religion is led by powerful
shamans and tribe leaders who often would claim association with Tengri. There were
often disputes and conflicts between shamans and khans as to who was more powerful, but
for the most part all worshiped the gods in peace. A major aspect of Genghis Khan’s rise to
power was the fact that he respected other religions when he heard of their existence. In
his mind, Tengri was a Mongol deity and ruled the steppe, not the rest of the world.
Therefore other religions were not wrong in his mind, but simply alternatives for other
parts of the world. Other lesser khans do not share this idea and believe that since Tengri
rules the sky, all must bow before him lesser spirits.
Warfare
As warfare became more prominent among the Mongol steppe, it became more
specialized and developed. The average Mongol warrior would have multiple horses with
him when on a war path to ensure that they could always have a way to fight even if their
main horse perished. The Mongols were excellent at utilizing speed to attack the
surrounding tribes and these additional horses allowed for faster travel than one by
sharing the load. The main device for warfare was the Mongol compound bow. This bow
was extremely powerful, but also small which made it excellent for use in combat as it was
used effectively on horseback. However all warriors were not archers and some were
heavily armed lancers who would lead the charge and protect the horse archers from the
enemy. As Temüjin conquered the Mongol steppe he created a new system in which the
army would be split up into groups based on number. These divisions were: Tumen (Ten
thousand), Minggghan (Thousand), Zuun (Hundred), and Arban (Ten). At the time of this
committee the entire Mongol army consists of ten Tumens or 100,000 men.
8
Economy
As a nomadic people, the Mongols have had to rely on other civilizations for access
to finished goods. This often included the neighboring Chinese who would trade for expert
horses and other domestic animals. Because of this the economy of the steppe was barter
based, not relying on coins and other forms of currency. Despite this, the use of coins in
neighboring Chinese provinces has sparked the interest of Genghis Khan who realizes that
it might be worth looking into. The wealth of the world would be easier to acquire if they
could buy it all.
Fate of the Mongols
The tribes of the Mongol steppe are united into one impressive force and the world
looks to be a prize worth the taking. To the southeast lies the mighty Jin Empire of China, to
the south lies the Western Xia and to the west lies the Kara-Khitan Khanate. All are
powerful empires that have stood for decades as bastions of civilization. With the rise of
the Mongol Confederation, they might see the steppe as a source of trouble, maybe even
trying to oust the horse lords outright. Also to the south lies the impressive Silk Road which
has been described as the single most important source of wealth in Asia. But along this
Silk Road travels religious leaders of Buhism, Islam and even Christianity. Any interactions
with these types of men would prove interesting for the fate of the confederation. What will
become of the Mongols? Will they branch out and conquer the world? Will they rule the
economies of Asia? Or even unite all peoples under one religion? Nothing is certain.
9
Positions within the Mongol Horde:
ATTENTION: Some of these positions are historical and others are fictional created by me.
As the Mongols were not the best at keeping records there is a lot of historical
discrepancies about people with many names being used for one person and vice versa.
This does not take away from any of the powers that each delegate will have as historical
and fictional positions will be treated the same.
Jochi:
The eldest son of Genghis Khan and his main wife Börte and heir apparent to the Mongol
Confederation. Much about his life is shrouded in mystery as his mother was taken by
rivals and was in captivity when he was born. This has led some to consider him to not be
the rightful son of Genghis. He is a very successful commander in the Mongol army.
Chaghatai:
The second eldest son of Genghis Khan and Börte, Chaghatai is not as well known for his
military skills such as his older brother, but instead is a great administrator of the Mongol
Confederation. As the writer of the law code he is considered the main bureaucrat of the
confederation. Although he is an excellent administrator he also commands troops at his
father’s request.
Ögedei:
Third son of Genghis Khan and Börte, he is a stoic individual that is seen as a clear-headed,
but ruthless leader. The most alike to his father, Ögedei is often chosen as the mediator
between his older brothers. Despite his age he is just as great a military leader as his
brother Jochi.
Nayagha:
Commander of the personal bodyguard of Genghis Khan called the Kheshig. These troops
consist of the most well trained and well equipped soldiers within the army as they are the
sons of the Mongol nobility. Nayagha is one of if not the most loyal of all soldiers to the
Great Khan himself as protecting him is his sole purpose on and off the battlefield.
10
Subutai:
Started off as one of the Kheshig, Subutai is considered to be the greatest general in the
Mongol military. Some might even say he is a better commander than Genghis Khan. He is
the second in command of the Mongol army and a close personal friend of the Great Khan.
Jebe:
The best example of the merit system in the Mongol Confederacy. During a battle to unite
the Mongol tribes Genghis Khan was wounded by an arrow. Jebe came forward and
confessed he shot the arrow and submitted to the will of the Great Khan. Seeing his
prowess in battle Genghis Khan made him a general. He became almost as great a leader as
Subutai and his loyalty to the Great Khan is unquestioned.
Muqali:
Started off his life as a servant to another khan, but was captured by Genghis Khan. He soon
became a close friend of the Great Khan and displayed impressive skill in combat. Seeing
this, Genghis Khan gave him command of some troops and soon displayed his martial
abilities in combat.
Shikhikhutag:
Stepbrother of Genghis Khan due to adoption, he is a close friend of the Great Khan. He was
tasked to create the Yassa or the Mongol law code. Therefore he is the chief judge and law
keeper of the confederation. If there is ever a breech in law, the defendant is at the mercy of
Shikhikhutag’s judgment.
Zhenjin:
A Buddhist Monk amongst the retinue of the Great Khan, Zhenjin has traveled from Tibet to
spread the teachings of Buddha. Understanding the shamanistic ways of the Mongols, he
aspires to convince them to embrace Buddhism as their neighbors to the south and east
practice the religion. If order is to be made amongst Buddhist subjects, a mediator would
be necessary, not to mention the riches to be made as many lords give wealth to
monasteries.
11
Hülegü:
A Nestorian missionary sent from the Kerait tribe, Hülegü is a staunch Christian like many
of his fellow tribesmen. Seeing a chance to spread the word of Jesus with the newly formed
Mongol Confederation, he has made his way to the center of events to treat with the Great
Khan and convince him to see the truth. While he practices Nestorian Christianity, there is
word from the west that many other Christians see this as heretical, making his mission
even more complicated.
Altangei:
Newly appointed shamanistic leader of the Mongolian Confederation. Genghis Khan himself
believes in Qormusata Tngri the great and supreme god of the Mongol steppe along with
the other 33 gods and 99 tngri underneath them. While many chiefs provided the role of
shaman leader, now Genghis Khan has appointed Altangei as the supreme shamanistic
leader of the Mongol Confederation. This is a position of high prestige as many of the
Mongols are shamanists who follow the will of Qormusata Tngri.
Berkedai:
Overseer of the Yam system within the Mongol Confederation. This system allows for
messages and information to be sent long distances over land through the use of messenger
riders. This allows for Berkedai to gain crucial information from all over the confederation
and its border areas as the messengers are also excellent spies.
Yelü Chucai:
The son of a Confucian minister in the Jin Empire, Yelü Chucai followed in his father’s
footsteps to become a Confucian minister as well. Although the Jin and the Mongols are
bitter enemies, Yelü Chucai decided to defect to the Mongol Confederation as his ethnic
group hated their Jin overlords. A very successful administrator, he plans on
revolutionizing the political and social structure of the confederation for the glory of
Genghis Khan, while also gaining some glory for himself.
Yisügel:
Administrator of economics and trade. A leading trader along the Silk Road, Yisügel is very
wealthy amongst the members of the confederation. Everything from spices to horses to
12
weapons travels along the Silk Road and as administrator Yisügel is directly responsible to
taxation and income from this trade.
Qaradai:
The lesser khan of the Tatar tribe within the Mongol confederation, Qaradai is a valuable
part of Genghis Khan’s coalition of chiefs. He plays a significant role in rallying his men for
the wars of his khan and also for acting as an administrator within the empire. Because of
this he listens directly to Genghis Khan. He is not a religious man, but he takes money and
wealth as serious as a religion.
Boladcin:
A lesser khan of the Mergid tribe, Boladcin serves essentially the same role as Qaradai as
the representative of his tribe. He listens to the Great Khan and is an advent supporter of
shamanism, thinking of other religions as false.
Image Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_Empire#mediaviewer/File:Mongol_Empire_c.
1207.png
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genghis_Khan#mediaviewer/File:YuanEmperorAlbu
mGenghisPortrait.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genghis_Khan#mediaviewer/File:Bataille_entre_mong
ols_%26_chinois_(1211).jpeg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Grobnik_field#mediaviewer/File:Mongol_sol
diers_by_Rashid_al-Din_1305.JPG
http://galleryhip.com/mongol-banner.html
http://sevenstarstrading.com/site/traditionalchinesearchery/
Writing Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genghis_Khan#Khwarezmian_Empire
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_Empire
13