Genghis Khan, despite his brutality, was an extremely effective leader. He was able to unify an entire group of people who were nomadic and who constantly fought among each other. He managed to do this and then take over almost all of Asia. A lot can be learned from him when it comes to being a leader. His greatest leadership qualities that are safe to emulate are how he unified his people under one common identity and how he moved commanding officers so that people would not become comfortable with each other.

Some would say that Genghis Khan was not an effective leader because he was unable to hold onto his empire for a significant period. Although he did not stay in power for very long he still managed to unify most of Asia and promote trade and the Silk Road. The Mongols set up trading cities which allowed for the spread of other cultures and goods all across Asia and even into Europe. The Mongols also provided amazing security for travelers and traders. Never had the Silk Road been so prosperous and safe.  

Xiongnu Empire was a nomadic territory that sat northwest of the Chinese empire. It was not an official country but rather tribes who were all nomadic and constantly fought among each other. Genghis Khan managed to take control and lead these groups by unifying all of them under one identity, Mongols. He managed to do this by mixing up the commanding officers from other tribes among each other. This meant that tribes now had ties and relations with other tribes. It also got tribes used to other tribes practices and unified them even more by a mutual understanding of each other. So now instead of tribes knowing only their own tribe they got used to working together and slowly their identity changed from individual tribes to Mongols. In The Secret History of the Mongols (Anonymous, c. 1240) we see that Mongols common identity and bond between each other was so strong that when “Three Merkits came and robbed [a Mongol man] of [his] wife and of [his] unborn son” another Mongol who “swore brotherhood” with this man’s father helped regain the man’s wife by providing “twenty thousand” men to attack the race who stole the man’s pregnant wife. This strong bond was all created by Genghis Kahn and his unification tactics. This tactic is good to emulate once we become officers in the fleet. People in the Navy come from all over the United States which makes working together difficult because we all have different views or beliefs on issues back home. As the officer we should be promoting the fact that we are all on the same team and we are all in the same fight. This will unify everybody and allow us to work together as a group instead of arguing among each other and not getting anything done.

Genghis Khan was an extremely effective leader who was able to unify and entire people under the one common identity of Mongols. As officers in the fleet we can copy his example and unify our teams under the identity of the United States Navy. This will allow us to work together better and will cause there to be fewer mistakes made because of it.

— Andrew Beck

Word Count: 549

The argument that the Romans were justified in their persecution of early Christians is put together well, but if further space had be available the additional information could have been added to secure and change the argument. The seemingly contrary effects of persecution and the spread of Christianity in Rome could have been used to add to the points already made.

The Romans claimed, in the context of their day, to be justified in attempting to hinder the rise of Christianity. This argument could have been supplemented to show the opposite results of persecution. Much of the New Testament is written by the Apostle Paul while he was actually in jail in Rome and much of it is written praising martyrs and giving encouragement in face of persecution. Verses from these texts would have made a quality primary source to add a new view to the argument.

In similar fashion persecution in a way did the opposite of hinder Christianity’s growth. The very symbol, the cross, which it is known for today is a symbol of Roman persecution. The Christian faith started via Jesus put to death by Rome and whose momentum was carried by his disciples whose stories virtually all ended in martyrdom. Christianity would advance despite persecution to a point at which Constantine even used the religion to help connect the vast empire.

The claim that Rome was justified could have used the results of the persecution to relate the significance of early Christian persecution into a larger historical context.

Robert Hatfield

Word Count: 251

The comparison between Kim Jong-Un and Alexander the Great is contextually very different, but there are very relevant connections that could have been developed more. The two main connections that were mentioned only briefly, was that both men were considered to be some form of a deity on Earth and both have used military technologies of their fathers to secure their rule.

The Kim dynasty is worshiped as part of the day to day life in North Korea. Chairman Kim is called the “Supreme Leader” and is taught to the North Korean children at a young age to be infallible. Alexander also said to be born by divine origin. That greatly secured his position with the Persians who he conquered. The widespread belief divinity belief within each of these leaders’ kingdoms is critical to understand how their people saw them.

The second point is that both of these leaders largely secured their young rule by  continuing upon weapons started by their fathers. Alexander’s use of a new full time army, armed with the cutting edge sarissa pike, gave Macedon a tremendous advantage on the battlefield. Kim Jong-Un has also largely stayed in power by advancing nuclear weapons program of his father.. The military foundations set forth by the previous rulers gave Kim and Alexander the tools needed to stay in power despite external threats.

The blog overall is has many legitimate comparisons that are used successfully to compare the Chairman Kim and Alexander the Great. The divine reputation and weapons are two ideas mentioned, that could be added to increase the depth of the blog.

Robert Hatfield

Word Count: 265

Confucianism in Contemporary Times

Confucianism ideals in the Han dynasty carry many moral truths that an officer in the Navy should abide by. Confucianism, although not as prevalent as it once was, was the major backbone of several predominant dynasties, and a governing philosophy rather than religion. As an officer in the Navy, one should be aware of what is a right action to take when faced with a difficult situation. The perpetuation of the morals engrained in Confucianism are a set of guidelines to do the latter, and are seen in the Navy through both its mission for officers and core values.

Religion remains a central focus to historians when studying ancient societies, and while the doctrine of Confucianism does not include the worshipping of godly dieties, it functions in the place of religion. Religion-based moral instructions are paralleled in Confucianism including the leading of others by virtue, and embodiment of faithfulness and trustworthiness: “I examine myself three times a day. When dealing on behalf of others, have I been trustworthy? In intercourse with my friends, have I been faithful? Have I practiced what I was taught?” (Confucius, 1.5).  This “self examination” that is carried out by Confucius is integral in realizing ones faults, and amending them. As future naval officers, it is important to be able to recognize your own flaws and to be open to criticism, as officers are often of the receiving end of this from both peers and seniors alike.  This self awareneness allows for the betterment of one’s moral code, which serves as a decision making guide that Naval officers employ daily. When tasked with the responsibility of leading others, having a strong moral conviction is necessary so that in times of high stress, sound actions are taken that result in the continued safety of one’s sailors or marines.

The Naval Academy has an honor code in which many similarities can be drawn to Confucianism. Lying, cheating, and stealing are all looked upon poorly both at USNA and in the doctrine of Confucianism. Therefore, to be virtuous would be to turn away from these lapses in judgement. Virtuosity as preached in Confucianism, is paramount: “The Master said: He who rules by virtue is like the polestar, which remains unmoving in its mansion while all the other stars revolve respectfully around it” (Confucius, 2.1). Upon realizing the steadfastness of character in one’s leader, they respect them more for it. Better military leaders translates to a stronger military force and therefore a safer stronger America.

The previous example of Confucianism ideals remaining important in contemporary times is just one instance of a hundred in which the studying of ancient civilizations influence today’s world. Virtue remains arguably the most important character trait in leaders, and is recognized today as it was during the Han dynasty.

–Molly Gillcrist

Word Count: 465

My knowledge and understanding of the Han dynasty and, more specifically, its emphasis on Confucianism, will be useful to me as an officer in the fleet. The Han dynasty is one of the greatest dynasties that China has ever seen. Under Han Wudi, who was emperor from 141-87 BCE and is considered the greatest of all Chinese emperors, the Chinese empire saw great development. He made several economic reforms, including building a canal that linked several economic regions, the taxation of merchants, and establishing government monopolies on salt and iron, all of which increased the general wealth of the empire.

However, one of the most important changes that Han Wudi and subsequent emperors made to the governance of the Chinese empire is the implementation of Confucianist policies. Confucianism places an emphasis on order and harmony and highly values education. Confucian’s teachings preach the essential goodness of humanity, and emphasize five main relationships in which it is essential to maintain balance in order to establish good conduct and harmony. These five relationships are: ruler-subject, father-son, elder-young brother, husband-wife, and friend-friend. In each of these relationships, the person listed first is the one in power. However, the “inferior” person in the relationship is still responsible for ensuring that the more “superior” person acts appropriately. Therefore, they both have a responsibility to each other to keeping each other in check, which creates a healthy power dynamic in their relationships. This is one concept that Confucian and, resultantly, the Han dynasty preached that will be useful to me as an officer. As a leader, it’s important to show respect for people no matter their background. Therefore, this balance in a relationship in which both parties are responsible for maintaining the good order is really relevant in the armed forces, where, regardless of rank, people have to show respect for each other, or else nothing will get done.

Not only does there exist a mutual respect between these individuals, but there exists a reciprocity that every leader should seek to establish with their people. For example, in the father and son relationship, the father was expected to be loving, and the son was expected to be reverential. Both individuals not only respect each other, but demonstrate loyalty to each other, which is key in a leader-follower relationship. Additionally, this type of relationship establishes harmony, which, although seemingly the contradictory to the concept of the military as a whole, is key to maintaining operational success. If there is a disconnect in the chain of command or if people do not maintain the balance in relationships, nothing can get done on a ship or in a command. People need to be linked to each other in some way, which is where harmony has a role in the Navy.

One of Confucius’ analects is “When one rules by means of virtue it is like the North Star – it dwells in its place and the other stars pay reverence to it”(The Analects of Confucius, 2.1). “Virtue” can mean many things in this context, however, since harmony and respect are key components of Confucianism, I take virtue to be synonymous with these two terms. Confucius points out that it’s important to rule through harmony and respect, and people will start to look towards you for guidance. This is an important lesson that I can take with me to the fleet, and is one that was highly valued in Han society as a result of its key place in Confucianism.

–Katie Mackle

Word count: 549

Sources:

Confucius. The Analects of Confucius : a Philosophical Translation. New York :Ballantine Books, 1999.

The Mongol Empire was built on the backs of the most efficient and effective fighting force the world had seen up to that point. They both amazed and terrified people with their aptitude at warfighting and their ability to create the largest empire the world had ever seen. These nomads, who were able to create an empire larger than Alexander the Great’s in 1/10 of the time and were so renowned for their brutality that they were compared to the Antichrist and determined to be worse than them, were established as the elite fighting force of the age (Athir, 13.1b).

The reason for their ability to be such an effective force at accomplishing their mission can be attributed to their cohesion. Their leader, Ghengis Khan was able to create a Mongolian national identity that unified the different tribes in the area. Whether it was the breaking of horizontal loyalties to clansman by putting tribe leaders in charge of different forces or the personal oaths of loyalty that the Mongols had to swear to him, Ghengis Khan was able to instill the utmost vertical loyalty in his troops by making them have an allegiance to the advancement of the Mongols as a whole. By making the individual troops have the priority of an allegiance to the Khan, he made a relationship between him and his leaders that consisted of men that “do not abandon each other but become protectors of that life” (The Secret History, 13.1a). This united all of his men under one mission and allowed their goals to align to allow the best possible performance.

As an officer in the fleet, it is important to ensure that the men that are under your command are as efficient and effective as possible. This can be done by establishing a goal that they should all work towards and by establishing a strong sense of vertical loyalty to the completion of the mission. When a team is working towards a goal, if any member has different intentions or thoughts on the matter, they can affect the whole process and slow it down. I can use what I learned from the Mongols to ensure that I focus on unifying the people under my command to work single mindedly towards a goal in order to become the best we can possibly be. A relationship towards the furthering of the United States should be strongly ingrained within every person and it is one of my jobs to ensure that this loyalty is deep and secured.

The Mongol empire was one of the most largest empires in the world. By using the different strategies used in forming proper unit cohesion myself, I will be able to become a better officer and develop the people I will lead into people that will truly benefit the nation.

-Eugene Om

Word Count-463

The Mongol Empire fostered an important system of maritime trade and global relations, a legacy that many Naval Officers will have experience with during their career. Also notable was their accomplishments and innovations that I will later discuss. As future officers, we can learn a lot from the formation and legacy of the Mongol Empire in terms of foreign relations, freedom of knowledge, religion, and culture, as well as effective organizational structures.

Foreign relations may possibly be one of the most important capabilities the Navy has, and so it was too for the Mongols. Because of their complex trade and postal systems, the Mongols valued their connections with Europe and other groups or nations in and around their area. This gave the Mongols access to goods they would otherwise never have; more importantly, however, it gave them connections in terms of new technologies and ideas similar to militaries in today’s world. As a Naval Officer it can be useful to remember the importance of foreign relations and open trade as well as their respective wide spread origins.

The Mongols were also well ahead of their time in freedom of knowledge, religion and free practice of native culture. Specifically, they made advances in science and technologies and allowed free practice of religion throughout their empire. Moreover, conquered groups were free to continue living their way and practicing their culture. Similarly, all Naval Officers must hold a bachelor’s degree showing an interesting parallel of the importance knowledge, science, and technology in today’s world just as the Mongols favored many years ago. Moreso, the respect for religion and culture can be described as a historic precursor to the ideals that the United States and its Navy embody.

Chinggis Khan favored organization in his military. In order to carry out complex tactics and maneuvers, he divided his army into ten people units, hundred people units, thousand people units, and ten thousand people units. He recognized the importance of out strategizing the enemy, and therefore, his organization aided in his success. Furthermore, the Mongols carried an important sense of camaraderie, “Men who are sworn brothers share on life. They do not abandon each other but become protectors of that life” (Onon – Urgunge,  199). Ultimately, the degree of this organization is resembled in today’s Navy and military in general.

There are many reasons to understand the origins of the Mongols; however, foreign relations, freedom of knowledge, religion, and culture, as well as effective organizational structures. These three principles were carried out extensively by the ancient Mongols and still apply in today’s modern war-fighting world.

~Brandon Gore

Word Count: 427

Onon, Urgunge, The secret history of the Mongols: the life and times of Chinggis Khan (London: Routledge, 2011), pp. 247-53.

The United States does not possesses a culture that is meant to serve the military, but instead possesses a military meant to serve the culture like Athens. The ancient city state of Athens parallels the United States in this way and much more. The fate and flaws of the Athenian democracy serves as an example to learn from today. Naval Officers can learn from Athens the lessons about the importance of commitment to values and the necessity of military professionalism within the fleet.

            The event that eventual led to the decline of the Athens’s glory was its war Spartan in the Peloponnesian Wars, but before there was a war there was a vice. That vice being that Athens turned its back on its democratic principles. Athens claimed to be the examples for all Greeks, yet they actively subjugated their fellow Greeks in tyranny. Few things embrace these stark contradictions between Athenian idealism of Pericles’ Funeral Oration and reality than the Melian Dialogue. Athens attacked a neutral state with the justifications being, “the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must” (Thucydides). A people driven by selfish ambition can drive a democracy to abandon its most principle values for material gain. Military officers in the American republic can take this to remember the significance of their swearing an oath to the Constitution. The values of the country are embodied in the Constitution and it is critical to constantly stay on guard against vices that made Athens an empire.

            A military professional should not only maintain the internal strength to stay true, but always maintain the competency to fulfil their main duty of defending their country and values it represents. Athens was able with its allies to fight and defeat the Persian Empire securing their ability to have democracy and live accordingly. The Persians vastly outnumbered the Greeks by almost all mechanisms of making war, but luckily for the Greeks, “the strength of an Army lies in the strict discipline and undeviating obedience to its officers” (Thucydides). Athens teaches the importance of having an officer corps that inspires in their troops the kind of disciple and devotion to overcome odds against them. Thucydides exemplifies why it is so important to have these quality officers in his saying that every warrior must also be a scholar. He states about all warriors, “The Nation that makes a great distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools” (Thucydides1.22). The United States like Greece fields a very competent and intelligent military force. The officers required to lead and inspire such a quality force as the one Thucydides describes and America emulates must be ever be working to make themselves worthy of their commission.

            Ancient Athens had its faults like any other country. The Unites States in its youth can still learn from Athens’s mistakes and its own to date. Military officers as they do now should not forget their promise to support and defend not a person, but ideals. The ideals found within the pages of the Constitution. Athens also exemplifies the justification for an officer corps that goes above and beyond the call of duty. When leading such quality citizen soldiers, whether that be in the form of a Greek hoplite or an American sailor, the officers should live in a state of continuous self-improvement if they are going to be able to lead their troops to victory.    

• Robert Hatfield
• Word Count: 579

The Mongols showed how brutal and cruel they could be while engaging in the largest land conquest the world has ever seen. They were known for their brutality as well as tolerance. This can relate to being a naval or Marine Corps officer because while brutality may not be the exact right word, stoicism and unwavering fighting spirit towards the enemy is essential in war. As officers, we will have to show our enlisted that same spirit and try to get them to adopt the same spirit. This will make whatever mission we embark on smoother and easier to complete. As for the tolerance aspect, showing tolerance and compassion for your enlisted will make them respect you even more. An officer could just complain and yell at their division because they technically have the legal power to, but their enlisted will have no respect for their leader, which will in turn cause them to not desire to follow the officer. This will slow down the whole dynamic of the mission and can potentially be dangerous.  

The Mongols had a very efficient hierarchy, which allowed them to conquer so much land in such a sort amount of time. This concept can be scaled down and applied to a ship, for example. If everyone understands where they belong and how they can be of as much help to the ship and mission as possible, the power of that whole ship will increase exponentially. Also as an officer, you must learn how to obey those above you, which is taught preemptively here at the Academy during plebe year. Not butting heads with your commanding officer and accepting his decision (even though you may not agree or understand the reasoning behind it) is a vital skill to bettering yourself. For example, during plebe year, plebes must square their corners. What benefit does this useless action have? There is none. The whole point of it is to make you obey something that you do not understand the reasoning behind or even flat out do not agree with.

The Mongolian Empire was the largest land empire in the history of the world and for good reason; they followed codes that made them fearless, intimidating, and brutal towards their enemies. This can be applied to war-fighting in any aspect, especially as an officer. The Mongolian hierarchy efficiently organized their warriors. In our military, we also require structure and order to maximize efficiency. Also, we must learn how to obey orders from superiors that we do not understand or agree with.

-Peter Lohrbach

Word Count: 421

Confucianism heavily influenced the formation of Chinese government and bureaucracy beginning in 500 B.C.E. when Kong Fuzi created a set of philosophies- otherwise known as Confucianism- that advocated for acceptance of “men of jen” (Spodek, 209) into the leading parts of society.  He believed that these values of Confucianism, emphasizing the importance of education, could better the Chinese government and lead to future prosperity at the hands of scholar leaders. Qin Shi Huangdi, although predating Confucius, was the first to alter his government to highlight the importance of education. Confucius later when touching on the importance of education noted in his Analects that “To study without thinking is futile. To think without studying is dangerous” (2.15). Previous to his rule, government officials were chosen based on personal or familial ties, but Qin’s decision to elect officials based on merit revolutionized the Chinese government. Idealistically this shift to a government inhabited by those whose proved worth was determined by score on a literacy test would lead to more informed and thought-through decisions being made, and ultimately a more competent virtuous council.

Ruling by Confucian scholars has its advantages. Confucianism preaches the inherent goodness of education and virtuousness. Those who lead should be moral, and should look out for the best interests of the society which they are in charge of. This serves to combat the tyranny of selfish kings, and prevents the neglect of certain classes or groups of people by a government who is supposed to take care of them. The emphasis of education as well is vital to the popularity and successfulness of Confucian thought in that those with higher education levels typically are more capable of ruling over a dynasty, and are able to fix problems efficiently, and foresee potential future crises that can be resolved before they occur. In chapter two of Confucius’ Analects, he states, “The Master said: He who rules by virtue is like the polestar which remains unmoving in its mansion while all the other stars revolve respectfully around it” (2.1). This further illustrates the authority one receives from not only being in a position of power, but also from being widely respected.

Although Confucianism is typically associated with Ancient China, it contains many values and ideas that carry on and are seen in modern society. Many American institutions today value merit-based government structures that Confucianism preaches the value of. Our very government is relatively Confucianist, in that those voted into office are seen by the people as virtuous and intelligent, and capable of acting in the country’s best interest always. Officials who lack virtuousness and selflessness in regards to the country, are rarely voted into office. Although the United States does not have tests based specifically on Confucianism, Confucianism encompasses many aspects of contemporary life, especially in formal structures of government and businesses.

–Molly Gillcrist

 Word Count: 411