Simone Lawson
While Genghis Khan is not a name that is often mentioned when discussing the most influential figures in world history, he and the Mongols were arguably the dominant force that shaped Eurasia and, consequently, the modern world. Best-selling anthropologist Jack Weatherford, in his book *Genghis Khan and the Quest for God*, argues that Genghis Khan's religious tolerance during his rule over the Mongol Empire inspired America's founding fathers, who enshrined this ideal in the First Amendment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Religious tolerance during his rule over the Mongol Empire | Genghis Khan inspired religious freedom in the US Constitution |
| Largest empire in history | Genghis Khan ruled Eurasia, from China to the Middle East and Russia |
| Yassa (or Yasa, Yasaq, Jazag, or Zasag) | The oral law code of the Mongols that was kept secret and never made public |
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What You'll Learn
Religious freedom and tolerance
The idea that Genghis Khan inspired the US Constitution in terms of religious freedom and tolerance is a provocative one, put forward by anthropologist Jack Weatherford in his book, *Genghis Khan and the Quest for God: How the World's Greatest Conqueror Gave Us Religious Freedom*. Weatherford argues that Khan's religious tolerance during his rule over the Mongol Empire inspired America's founding fathers, who enshrined that ideal in the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof".
Genghis Khan is often remembered as a brutal and ruthless warlord, but he is also known as a conqueror who allowed religious freedom. Voltaire, in an essay on religious toleration, cites the Mongols as an example of a society that practised religious freedom. During Khan's rule in the 13th century, virtually every religion had found converts, from Buddhism to Eastern Christianity and Manichaeanism to Islam. To avoid strife, Khan set up an institution that ensured complete religious freedom, though he himself was a Tengrist. He is said to have given his subjects freedom of religion, unlike the Christian, Taoist, and Muslim conquerors who came before him. Khan's decree of religious freedom earned him the title of "defender of religions".
Weatherford's argument is not without its critics. One of the main issues is the 500-year gap between Khan's rule and the drafting of the US Constitution. Additionally, it is difficult to prove the extent of an idea's influence. However, Weatherford's careful use of primary sources, such as *The Secret History of the Mongols*, lends credibility to his claims.
The similarities between Khan's work on religious freedom and Thomas Jefferson's Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1777 are notable. Biographies of Khan were found in the libraries of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson, indicating that the Founding Fathers were at least interested in Khan's life and ideas. While the direct influence of Khan on the US Constitution may be hard to prove, Weatherford's work highlights the important role that the Mongolian warlord may have played in inspiring the religious freedom and tolerance enshrined in the First Amendment.
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The Mongol Empire's influence on the founding fathers
The Mongol Empire, under Genghis Khan, was the dominant force that shaped Eurasia and, consequently, the modern world. Khan united the nomadic tribes of Mongolia under his rule and that of his family, creating a rigidly disciplined military state. This state would become the largest empire in history, stretching from China to the Middle East and Russia.
Genghis Khan's religious tolerance during his rule over the Mongol Empire is argued by some to have inspired America's founding fathers. Anthropologist Jack Weatherford, for example, posits that the religious freedom enshrined in the First Amendment of the US Constitution—which states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"—was influenced by Khan's ideals.
The Yassa, or the oral law code of the Mongols, was gradually built up during Khan's reign. It served as the de facto law of the Mongol Empire, even though the decrees were kept secret and never made public. This allowed the decrees to be modified and used selectively, with some believing that Khan himself supervised this process alongside his adopted son Shigi Qutuqu, the high judge of the Mongol Empire. The Yassa outlined laws for various members of the Mongol community, such as soldiers, officers, and doctors, with three main aims: obedience to Khan, unity among the nomad clans, and the harsh punishment of wrongdoing.
Genghis Khan's influence on the founding fathers of the United States, if any, was likely indirect and based on the broader impact of the Mongol Empire on Eurasia and the world. The Mongol Empire's legacy includes the unification of Mongolia, the spread of cultural and technological innovations across Eurasia, and the establishment of a vast trade network that connected continents. These developments may have had far-reaching consequences, influencing the thinking and beliefs of America's founding fathers, including their commitment to religious freedom and other principles enshrined in the US Constitution.
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Genghis Khan's role in shaping Eurasia
While Genghis Khan is not often thought of as one of history's most influential figures, he and the Mongols were arguably the dominant force that shaped Eurasia and, consequently, the modern world. Under Genghis Khan and his successors, the Mongols ruled a vast empire that stretched from China to the Middle East and Russia—the largest empire in history.
Genghis Khan's unification of the Mongol tribes and his establishment of the largest contiguous state in world history had a profound and permanent impact on the worldview of European, Islamic, and East Asian civilisations. His conquests enabled the creation of unprecedented Eurasian trading systems, which brought wealth and security to the tribes. Genghis Khan also reorganised the legal system and established a powerful judicial authority under Shigi Qutuqu.
The Mongols spread technologies such as paper, gunpowder, paper money, and the compass throughout Eurasia. They revolutionised warfare and created the nucleus of a universal culture and world system, emphasising free commerce, open communication, shared knowledge, secular politics, religious coexistence, international law, and diplomatic immunity.
Genghis Khan divided his empire among his four children, but the unity could not be preserved, and the individual khanates drifted apart. Despite this, the main contemporary centres of power in Eurasia have their roots in the Mongol empire. For example, China was politically and administratively unified by Genghis Khan's grandson, Khubilai Khan, and thereafter maintained its geographic and political integrity despite the succession of dynasties.
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The Yassa law code's impact on the US Constitution
The Yassa (or Yasa, Yasaq, Jazag, and Zasag) was the oral law code of the Mongols during the reign of Genghis Khan. While the Yassa was the de facto law of the Mongol Empire, it was kept secret and never made public, allowing the decrees to be modified and used selectively. The Yassa outlined laws for various members of the Mongol community, including soldiers, officers, and doctors.
The Yassa was supervised by Genghis Khan and his adopted son Shigi Qutuqu, the high judge of the Mongol Empire. The laws aimed to inspire obedience to Genghis Khan, unify the nomadic clans, and enforce harsh punishment for wrongdoing. The Yassa also covered matters pertaining to the division of spoils and property, as well as trials.
Genghis Khan's religious tolerance during his rule over the Mongol Empire has been argued by some, such as anthropologist Jack Weatherford, to have inspired America's founding fathers. Weatherford's book, "Genghis Khan and the Quest for God", suggests that Khan's religious tolerance influenced the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom.
The impact of Genghis Khan and the Mongols on the shaping of Eurasia and the modern world is undeniable. Their influence extended from China to the Middle East and Russia, making it the largest empire in history. The Yassa law codes, as the legal framework of this vast empire, would have undoubtedly played a role in shaping the region's future legal and cultural landscape.
While there is no direct evidence that the Yassa law codes directly influenced the US Constitution, it is plausible that the indirect impact of Genghis Khan's legal framework contributed to the development of legal traditions and principles that may have influenced the founding fathers. The Yassa's emphasis on religious tolerance, obedience to a central authority, and the unification of diverse communities may have had a lasting impact on legal and social norms that eventually shaped the US Constitution.
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The legacy of Genghis Khan's military conquests
Genghis Khan is one of the most famous conquerors in history, known for consolidating tribes into a unified Mongolia and extending his empire across Asia to the Adriatic Sea. He founded the Mongol nation, organised its armies, and was the genius behind their campaigns, even though his generals often operated independently, far from his supervision.
The Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan and his successors ruled over Eurasia, from China to the Middle East and Russia—the largest empire in history. Genghis Khan's empire was governed by the Yassa (or Yasa, Yasaq, Jazag, or Zasag), an oral law code gradually built up throughout his reign. The Yassa was the de facto law of the Mongol Empire, kept secret and never made public, allowing decrees to be modified and used selectively. It outlined laws for various members of the Mongol community, such as soldiers, officers, and doctors, with three main aims: obedience to Genghis Khan, unifying the nomad clans, and the harsh punishment of wrongdoing.
Genghis Khan's military conquests had a significant impact on the world, shaping Eurasia and, consequently, the modern world. While the Mongol invasions caused extensive destruction, their legacy extends beyond this. Genghis Khan's religious tolerance during his rule has been argued by some, such as anthropologist Jack Weatherford, to have inspired America's founding fathers and the ideal of religious freedom in the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
Best-selling anthropologist Jack Weatherford argues in his book, *Genghis Khan and the Quest for God*, that Genghis Khan’s religious tolerance during his rule over the Mongol Empire inspired America’s founding fathers, who enshrined that ideal in the First Amendment.
The Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan and his successors was the largest empire in history, stretching from China to the Middle East and Russia.
The Yassa was the oral law code of the Mongols, built up over the reign of Genghis Khan. It was the de facto law of the Mongol Empire, though it was kept secret and never made public.
The exoteric aspect of the Yassa outlined laws for various members of the Mongol community, such as soldiers, officers, and doctors. It aimed at three things: obedience to Genghis Khan, a binding together of the nomad clans, and the merciless punishment of wrongdoing.
Genghis Khan is known for consolidating tribes into a unified Mongolia and then extending his empire across Asia to the Adriatic Sea, making the Mongols a dominant force that shaped Eurasia and consequently the modern world.
