Logistical Strategies of the Mongol Army

🐎The Mongols relied on their pastoral nomadic lifestyle and strategic logistics skills to ensure the survival of their armies.

📨The yam postal system allowed for efficient communication and coordination across the vast Mongol Empire.

🌾The Mongols practiced a predatory foraging strategy, relying on local resources and harassing enemy villages for supplies.

🏹Iron-tipped arrows were a key weapon of the Mongol army, providing them with a deadly advantage on the battlefield.

🐴The Mongols' reliance on horses allowed for rapid movement and the ability to field large numbers of cavalry.

What role did grass play in supplying the Mongol army?

—Grass provided the necessary nutritional intake for the smaller horses of the Mongol army and allowed them to field immense herds.

How did the Mongols communicate and coordinate their armies?

—The Mongols utilized the yam postal system, which consisted of relay stations that facilitated the fast delivery of messages across their vast empire.

What strategies did the Mongols use to gather supplies during campaigns?

—The Mongols practiced a predatory foraging strategy, spreading out across the countryside to feed their horses on grasslands and relying on local grain stores. They also harassed and drove peasants towards major urban centers to strain the enemy's resources.

What weapons did the Mongol soldiers use?

—The average Mongol soldier would have had basic equipment such as bows, arrows, knives, ropes, and sewing kits. Metal weapons and armor were uncommon, and most soldiers repurposed looted equipment.

How did the Mongols maintain their mobility on campaigns?

—The Mongols relied on their horses for mobility, rotating between multiple remounts to avoid overexerting a single animal. This allowed them to strike with speed and resupply as needed.

00:06The Mongol army relied on logistical strategies to feed and supply their forces.

04:09Grass provided the necessary nutrition for the small horses of the Mongol army.

08:19The yam postal system facilitated communication and coordination across the empire.

13:30The Mongols practiced a predatory foraging strategy, relying on local resources and harassing enemy villages for supplies.

14:23The Mongol soldiers were equipped with basic weapons, and most repurposed looted equipment.

15:58The yam postal system allowed for efficient communication and coordination across the vast Mongol Empire.

18:44The Mongols' mobility was maintained through the rotation of remounts and efficient resupply.

19:48The Mongols relied on their predatory foraging strategy to gather supplies during campaigns.