20. Transforming Tribes Into a Nation
Temujin had an instinct for tribal politics, and he parlayed his steadily growing band of followers to bring the disparate Mongol clans under his sway, one after another, until he had unified the entire tribe under his leadership. Temujin then implemented sweeping reforms intended to erase intra-tribal distinctions. He accomplished that by the extreme but effective measure of exterminating the Mongols’ fractious tribal aristocracy. He then combined the commoners into a unified tribe, bound by their personal allegiance to Temujin. After unifying the Mongols, Temujin set his sight on neighboring tribes. He began by taking on the formidable rival Tatars. After defeating them, he executed all Tatar males taller than a wagon’s axle. By 1206, Temujin had destroyed all Steppe rivals, and the formerly squabbling tribes had been united into a greater Mongol nation.
