15. Contra the Perception That Mongol Hordes Were Chaotic Barbarians, They Were Actually a Highly Organized and Well Oiled Military Machine
Genghis Khan organized the Mongols for war. He was a good judge of men, a great talent spotter, and his system was a meritocracy where the capable could rise, regardless of origins. He subjected the formerly fractious and feuding nomadic warriors to strict military discipline that was hard, but not overly harsh or unreasonable. And he drilled and trained them constantly. He then placed them in a well-organized hierarchical organization, with a clear-cut and effective chain of command.
Despite the perception that the Mongols were chaotic barbarians, their military was highly organized. Genghis Khan created a military structure based on decimals, with a hierarchy of ranks. At the base were squads of 10 men, known as an Arbans. 10 Arbans formed a company of 100, known as a Zuun. 10 Zuuns were combined into a regiment of 1000, known as a Minghan. 10 Minghans were formed into a division of 10,000, known as a Tuman. A separate imperial guard of 10,000 men protected the Khan and leading Mongol figures.
