by Boris Zubry
Subutai strongly advised Batu and Ogedei Khan to keep pushing forward. They had the momentum, and the horror of their approach and the ferociousness preceded them well in advance. That was the advantage they could not give up by stopping or even slowing down. Mongols were the most terrifying thing of the time, not mentioning the violent outbreaks of epidemics. The Black Death was popping up in many places, taking so many lives, destroying the entire towns. The crusades were terrifying as well but considered noble hence, supported. Thus, Subutai thought they were unstoppable, the wrath of Gods. They had to keep moving. He agreed that the sea could not be crossed and therefore, they could not go much forward, but what about the sideways.
He wanted to go up North and the South and see what was there. There should be people, countries, riches, and so ripe for the taking. They heard so many stories and saw the people from many places they had not found yet. All that should be out there, within reach. If they saw the people, there should be the places they came from. Subutai wanted to see the land where the Scandinavians (the Russians) came from and the lands of the European traders visiting the Silk Road. There were so many of them by now. Thus, it was not a fairytale. They did not lie or fantasized. They came from the countries they described. Venice and Florence, Italy - Mongols had not found it yet. They heard of Paris and Rome but where was it. They have not seen it yet, but they had seen the people and the goods from there. So, it should be out there. They could not find many places, but they knew that those places existed. Everything, every little piece of information they gathered supported that. Yes, they had to stay there much longer and go to the North and to the South. They had to see everything. There should be more, much more and then, even more than that.
Ogedei Khan promised to foreign visitors from Europe, time and time again, to visit the esteemed countries of the traders with the first opportunity. Was this the opportunity he mentioned? That was perfect for a visit and more. Mongols wanted to see with their own eyes the strange things the visitors described. The buildings, the ships, the strange foods, the art, and the crafts. They wanted to see the lifestyle of those people and their customs. Yes, they wanted gold, works, and the masterful slaves as well. They also wanted the blond, blue-eyed women and men. Venice and Florence and the other places like that did not have to be conquered and burnt down but befriended. Why kill and destroy something you may like? Capturing and burning was too fatal and reserved for the minor places and the lesser people. The Mongols knew that very well. Venice and Florence could be great allies and the partners in trade and ruling the world. They could be almost as useful as the Khazars were for Genghis Khan. Batu Khan used to dream of this cooperation, and the great empire resulting from it. He thought it could be done and be very beneficial for the Mongol Empire. He was sure the Great Khan would go along with this idea.
The Silk Road could be branched out to Venice and beyond. Why not? It would make a lot of sense. That should be the main rout of the world and the glory of the Mongols. This was the time to explore, and Subutai did not want to wait any longer. Life was too short for waiting. He was getting old and restless and time was not on his side. Still, Subutai had never seen Venice or Italy or the rest of Europe. It was not his destiny. He died (in 1248 at the age of 72) shortly after this campaign.
Batu Khan died (in 1255 at the age of 48) young while preparing additional campaigns to the North and to the South and strengthening his own domain. He wanted to follow Subutai’s advice and go there. On the Volga River shore right where the Bulgars used to live before the Mongols forced them out, he established the domain known as the Kipchak Khanate and the capital city was called Sarai. Some documents claim that, at the peak, at the Golden Age, it was about 600,000 people strong. In Russia, it came to be known as the Golden Horde due to the gorgeous golden color tents in which the Mongolian army camped. Or, was it the very center of the Empire, the center of the Mongolian universe, thus Golden? It was a site: thousands of Mongol and Khazar soldiers, strange appearing hairy small, but powerful horses, wild looking Tatars and the Kalmyks, exotic Chinese and the Kyrgyz, and the slaves from all over the world and beyond. It could be the center of the universe of the time. Was there a more prominent and more alive city at the time? Only the history could judge that, and the history had not offered any serious alternatives. The Golden Horde was probably the most significant force for a few hundred years.
Ulaanbaatar
The economic activities of Mongolia were traditionally based on agriculture, breeding and processing the livestock, and some crafts. It never was an industrial nation, but the Soviets tried to make it and hard. No matter how hard the Soviets tried, the Mongols could never adhere to the factory rules becoming one of the least productive members of the Soviet Bloc. Still, when it came to domesticated animals, Mongols were second to none. They knew it well. That was in their blood. That was the Mongol nature, the way of life. Mongolia also had extensive mineral deposits: copper, coal, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold that accounted for a large part of industrial production. Interesting to know that almost one-third of the GDP disappeared practically overnight in 1990-91 at the time of the dismantlement of the USSR and never came back. That was a sad state of affairs by any standards.
Mongolia was rapidly driven into a deep recession. That was prolonged by the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party’s (MPRP) reluctance to undertake serious economic reforms and become a free market society. Without the Soviet bayonets, the MPRP (in reality, the Mongolian Communist Party) was quickly replaced by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC). The Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) administration embraced free-market economics, eased price controls, liberalized domestic and international trade and attempted to restructure the banking system and the energy sector. Restructuring of the banking system... Well, they had to create one first, and that was not easy. No one ever had money there, and the banking system was not really needed. But, the free, market society could not exist without one. Major domestic privatization programs were undertaken as well as the fostering of foreign investments through the international tender of the oil distribution company, a leading cashmere company, and the financial institutions.
Reforms were held back by the ex-Communist MPRP opposition and by the political instability brought about through four successive administrations under the DUC. Despite all that, some economic growth picked up again in 1997-99 after stalling in 1996 due to a series of natural disasters and declines in world prices of copper and cashmere. In August and September of 1999, the economy suffered from a temporary Russian ban on exports of oil and oil products and Mongolia remained vulnerable in that sector. Mongolia finally joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1997. At the Consultative Group Meeting held in Ulaanbaatar in June of 1999, the international community pledged help that was over $300 million per year. The MPRP government, elected in July of 2000, was anxious to improve the investment climate. It also had to deal with a heavy burden of external debt that was still mounting. Falling prices for Mongolia's primary sector exports, widespread opposition to privatization and the adverse effects of weather on agriculture in early 2000, and 2001 had limited the GDP growth. Despite the drought problems in 2002, GDP rose 4.0%, followed by a solid 5.0% increase in 2003. Yet, the first claims under the land privatization law have been marked by many disputes over particular sites. Thus, the economy started to slide down again. The Russian claims that Mongolia owed it $11 Billion from the Soviet times were expressed loudly with every opportunity. If paid, it would choke the Mongolian economy to near death. Any settlement in respect of $11 billion could substantially increase Mongolia's foreign debt burden that was back-breaking already. This was a problem Mongolia did not know how to deal with yet, something had to be done and fast. But what? Life was getting rather tighter even for the government officials, and there was no light in sight.
2004 spelled another disaster for Mongolia and its leaders. Mongols were leaving towns and cities in mass going back to the steppes and the lifestyle
of the ancestors. After all, they were going back. It seemed that half of the country was moving out. Was it that deep in their genes? Still, it was popular and very fashionable. They preferred to lead the simple, lazy but somewhat modernized nomad life to the complex organized city life of the almost industrial nation. They did not want to work in factories and stores. They wanted to ride horses and camels, hunt, and fish and move around freely as the wind. They wanted to feel like the wind. They wanted to be that wind. Well-made tents, portable generators, all-terrain vehicles and the electronics with rechargeable battery packs were the hottest items on sale. The Silk Road started to wake up to the motor caravans from China to Russia carrying contraband of all types: clothes, shoes, crafts, drugs, stolen vehicles, antiques, food, household items, electronics and whatever else market demanded at the lowest possible price. The caravans were bypassing or paying off the law enforcement agents of all countries involved. Life was getting good for everyone who wanted in. One could beat that price only by producing the goods at zero cost or by stealing them, and stealing was much easier to achieve.
Both sides, Russia and China, loved it so much. Chinese were very good at producing the cheapest knock-offs in electronics, consumer goods, clothes, music CD’s, computer hard and software and other popular items. They would “re-engineer” anything. That was while the Russians offered the arms, ammunition, cars stolen from Europe, trainloads of natural resources, food, and the western goods. That was just a perfect arrangement where history was repeating itself. Silk Road was still the Silk Road. The market economy was influencing the movement of goods, and everyone involved was making a living. Even slavery came back (frankly, it never left). Women and children from Russia and Asia were sold and moved to the Middle East, Europe, and Japan.
Islam and the Muslim countries always enjoyed the slavery business, and now, it was really booming. Sex slavery was leading the way. Almost any Muslim with a little money could purchase a white or an Asian woman or a child for personal use, and they often did. But, if one did not want to own too many slaves, the forced prostitutes of the proper age and underage, male and female, were readily available even in the most conservative countries as Saudi Arabia. It was not openly displayed, but one could ask, and it would be delivered. It was even fashionable in many Muslim societies. Western Europe and Latin America were somewhat trailing behind in the usage of the forced prostitution and white slavery, nonetheless, it was still there and quite popular. They could not afford to miss such an opportunity. No one could. Even in the United States and Canada, one could find numerous places offering that service and more. Drugs and drug usage were on the rise. The Russian – Chinese axis and all the associates and the middlemen were happy, making a good leaving. They were stealing the goods and people, moving them around the world. The world did not embrace it but did not resist much either. It was okay, but it was. Many politicians closed their eyes and enjoyed the perks. Was there a good history lesson in it? Maybe it was, but we did we learn anything?
Productivity in Mongolia fell behind and kept falling, not that it ever was high. Plants, factories, and the agricultural cooperatives were closing down for not being economically justified any longer. Were they ever? Goods produced in Mongolia were too few, too expensive and of the inferior quality on top of it. Cost of production in Mongolia was just too high, and the goods were almost useless comparing to the rest of the world. The outside world did not want it, and the Mongols did not want it either. The ancient Mongolian currency – Tugrik – went down to the drain of uncertainty, having no chance to recover any time soon.
Even printing and minting it was more expensive than its worth. There were hard times before, and now, it was getting close to impossible. Repayments to Russia, even the small ones, were driving the economy of Mongolia to the lowest pre-historical level but the Russians demanded more. They wanted Mongolia. And, the Russians could become a real threat if not handled properly. Because most of the former Soviet Bloc countries told Russia to get lost or presented the own bills early in the game, Mongolia was charged for everything and threatened with sanctions if the obligations were not paid. Mongolia depended on so many things from Russia that even a small resistance could break it completely. The situation that spelled disaster was on hand, and it needed immediate attention. But what to do? There was no experience, no precedent to rely on. Mongolia could not pay, and that was it. The future looked very bleak and with no bright light at the end of the tunnel. Oh yeah, it was a tunnel, deep and dark. Help was needed, but where to find it? The government of Mongolia was in disarray.
Mongols never were the leading society of the world, but they gained unprecedented fame and power in the 13th century when under the bloodiest ruler, Genghis Khan, and his followers they built a vast Eurasian empire. They ruled almost entire Asia, and Eastern Europe and influenced many historical developments dramatically. They incited many past expansions and forced the results. They were the movers and shakers of the time. New people, cultures, and countries were the outcomes of it. The new look at the world affected the world. Yet, the effect was not as dramatic in Western Europe as in Central Asia and Russia. Thus, the modern Russians were the heavy mix of the Scandinavians and the Tatars and not, as they were told, the Slavs. Slavs were in the middle of the turmoil early on and then, squeezed out entirely in the perpetual blood-shedding between the Vikings (the Russians) and the Tatars. At least a half of the modern time Russia consists of the tribes (Tartars, Mongols, Kazakhs, Buryats, Tuvans, Bashkirs, Chinese, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Turkmens, Mordvins, Kyrgyz, Karaims, Azeris, etc.) that were a part of the Golden Horde at the time. That mix made the Russians the way they think and act, the Russian history and the Russian culture, as they are.
Who could really say what the wild genes may want and may do? Who could understand the nomad spirit chained by restrictions of the organized society? All that created a wild card character, as the computer professionals call it. It could be too unpredictable and even outright dangerous. Too often the Russians still demonstrate the mentality of the wild, murderous tribes and the Golden Horde. “Want” was the only verb considered. Too often they still act as they rule the world and the world still has to pay them the tribute. Too often they get away with it. Too often they scare us into submission. But, the world in most parts did not agree, and the conflicts create more conflicts with the Russians at the foundation and amid it. Beware of the Russians and the mad dogs!
After Genghis Khan’s death, the empire was divided into several powerful Mongol/Tatar states, but these (because of the different reasons) broke apart in the 14th century. Only the Crimean Horde survived until the 18th century sucking blood from the people in Russia, Ukraine, Belorussia, the Baltic States, and Poland. That was the cancer of the time and the place nothing could cure while no one was strong enough for the surgical approach. The Crimean Horde (The Crimean Khanate) was a mercenary state selling the power of war and death to anyone who could pay and taking the spoils of the war as well. Often, they just took the spoils of the war without providing the power of war and death, the support they were paid for. They could break promises at will. They always won no matter who was the victor on the battlefield. They were known for betrayal and changing sides in the middle of the battle, adding considerably to the collected misery, and the combine hates from everyone around. Did they care? Tatars had no friends at all. Still, no one knew what they would do this time and hoped not to see them on the other side. That is why Tatars were always employed or just paid off. That was a lucrative place to be. And, in the 18th century, when the Russians became bold enough to attack the Crimean Horde, many joint the effort. The citizens of the Crimean Khanate were beaten up and eventually retired to their original steppe’s homelands, and later, came under the Chinese rule. And, Crimea, as a part of Ukraine, became Russian. These were not happy times, and Mongols had to wear the yoke they used to force on the others for centuries. The world remembered that quite well, so help was not coming any time soon. They were alone, and n
o one was afraid of them any longer.
In 1921, with the strong Soviet backing, Mongolia revolted against the Chinese and won its independence. The leader of the revolution was Ulaani Baatar, who believed to be a direct descendant of Great Genghis Khan and that supported the prophecy. Only a direct descendant of Great Genghis Khan could lead the people of Mongolia and succeed. Details of his life and the family tree were not clear, but people believed in it, and that was enough to spark a successful uprising. The pro-Soviet Communist regime was installed in Mongolia in 1924 and lasted, with the constant Soviet intervention, for almost seventy years. Yes, the Soviet bayonets and the limited financial support did help. The Soviets were draining the Mongolian natural resources in exchange for the small place in the Socialist camp. The enormous military base and the thousands of Soviet military and civilian professionals and advisors underscored the Soviet control of Mongolia and the attempt to “Russify” the small nation. That nation over the centuries contributed so much to the Soviet Citizen’s genetic pool that it was difficult to separate them anyway. Most of the Russians had the Tartar and the Mongol blood and often, in large quantities. What was the Soviet citizenry anyway? The Soviet-Mongolian integration was somewhat peaceful with many Soviets being sent to Mongolia and a few Mongols going to the Soviet Union to live, to work, to study, but mainly to learn how to operate the Soviet style. They were brainwashed the Soviet way thus, integrated into the Socialist camp. Yet, no matter how hard the Soviets tried, Mongolia was not developing fast enough. If not for the Silk Road contraband and China, they would be at the very bottom of the Socialist camp, not that they were much higher. Still, any socialist country that was not a part of the Soviet Union was doing somewhat better than the Soviet Republics. They had some breathing room with Hungary, East Germany, and Yugoslavia leading the well-to-do pack. Then, there was Poland and Czechoslovakia, Romania and Albania and only then, the rest of the camp. So, what if Mongolia was on the bottom of the barrel? It was better off than Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Moldavia or Belorussia. Even Mongolia was better off than they.