Giovanni da Pian del Carpine | History of the Mongols | A-Review
Giovanni da Pian del Carpine’s ‘History of the Mongols’-A-Review
Giovanni da Pian del Carpine’s “History of the Mongols” is one of the earliest and most detailed accounts of the Mongol Empire. Giovanni da Pian del Carpine was an Italian Franciscan friar who was sent by Pope Innocent IV on a diplomatic mission to the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. The purpose of his mission was to establish an alliance between the Mongols and the Christian West against the Muslims.
The “History of the Mongols” is divided into six books, each of which covers a different aspect of the Mongol Empire. The first book provides an introduction to the Mongols and their customs. It describes their physical appearance, their dress, and their way of life. The second book covers the history of the Mongols, beginning with their origins and the rise of Genghis Khan. The third book covers the reign of Ogedei, Genghis Khan’s son and successor, and the expansion of the empire during his reign. The fourth book covers the reign of Guyuk, Ogedei’s son, and the decline of the empire under his rule. The fifth book covers the reign of Mongke, Guyuk’s brother, and the resurgence of the empire under his rule. The sixth and final book covers the reign of Kublai Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan, and the establishment of the Yuan Dynasty in China.
One of the strengths of the “History of the Mongols” is its level of detail. Giovanni da Pian del Carpine provides a wealth of information about the Mongols, including their military tactics, their administration, their religious beliefs, and their social customs. He also provides detailed accounts of his travels through the Mongol Empire, describing the landscape, the cities and towns he visited, and the people he met.
Another strength of the “History of the Mongols” is its unbiased perspective. Despite his mission to establish an alliance between the Mongols and the Christian West, Giovanni da Pian del Carpine provides a balanced account of the Mongol Empire, neither idealizing nor demonizing it. He acknowledges the cruelty and brutality of the Mongols, but also recognizes their achievements in science, art, and literature.
However, the “History of the Mongols” is not without its limitations. As a Western observer, Giovanni da Pian del Carpine had a limited understanding of the Mongol culture and language. This led to some misunderstandings and inaccuracies in his account. For example, he describes the Mongols as a “lawless” people, when in fact they had a highly organized system of laws and governance.
Overall, the “History of the Mongols” is a valuable source of information about the Mongol Empire, providing a detailed and unbiased account of one of the most powerful empires in world history. While it is not without its limitations, it remains an important historical document for scholars and students of the Mongol Empire. 0 0 0.
Giovanni da Pian del Carpine History of the Mongols A-Review
N.B. The article originally belongs to the book entitled ‘Reviews of Some Iconic Travelogues‘ by Menonim Menonimus.
Books of Literary Criticism by M. Menonimus:
- World Short Story Criticism
- World Poetry Criticism
- World Drama Criticism
- World Novel Criticism
- World Essay Criticism
- Indian English Poetry Criticism
- Indian English Poets and Poetry Chief Features
- Emily Dickinson’s Poetry-A Thematic Study
- Walt Whitman’s Poetry-A Thematic Study
- Critical Essays on English Poetry
- Tawfiq al-Hakim’s Novel: Return of the Spirit-An Analytical Study
- Tawfiq al-Hakim’s Novel: ‘Yawmiyyat Naib Fil Arayaf’-An Analytical Study
- Analytical Studies of Some Arabic Short Stories
- A Brief History of Arabic Literature: Pre-Islamic Period (500 AD-622 AD)
- A Brief History of Arabic Literature: Early Islamic Period (622 AD-661 AD)
- Reviews on William Shakespeare’s Works
- Reviews of John Milton’s Literary Works
- Reviews of Some Iconic Travelogues …
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