Basically: "(1) the rise and expansion of the Mongol Empire, 1185- 1265; (2) recruitment and organization of the Mongol Army; (3) training and equipping the Mongol warrior; (4) care of the army: logistics, supply, and medical care; (5) espionage, tactics, and strategy; (6) leadership; (7) opponents of the Mongols; (8) at war with the Mongols; and (9) legacy of the Mongols." (3)

In the early thirteenth century there were battles to determine who owned the heartland of Asia between the Russians, Chinese, and Mongolians.

The Mongolians were (and still are in many areas) nomadic - they roamed place to place without having an official home. Part of their nomadic living involved horses, thus helping them move from location to location at a quicker pace. It also helped in hunting.

The Mongolians became known for their mounted archers along with a technique that we call The Parthian shot. We also have to appreciate the size of their armies. According to Marco Polo, the Mongol army numbered between 600,000 and 650,000 warriors. Of course, modern scholars believe these figures are exaggerated. It was probably closer to just over 100,000 men.

"Their remarkable successes resulted from superior weaponry, tactics, and organization. They had developed a composite bow, made out of horn and sinew, and could shoot it accurately while riding a horse, giving them a significant advantage over their enemies. With a range of more than 350 yards, their bow was superior to the European crossbow, which was accurate only up to a range of 250 yards. Their small but extremely sturdy and fast horses also contributed strength to their feared armies. The Mongol cavalry, with its ability to traverse rugged terrain, was a vital asset in warfare. The Mongols' tactic of feigned withdrawal that lured their pursuers into a deadly trap, their use of dummies placed on horses to deceive the enemy about their numbers, and their positioning of captured enemy soldiers in the vanguard of their offense proved to be effective. The discipline they imposed on their forces and the sophisticated intelligence network they created before campaigns also contributed to their victories." (4)

Sources:

Smith, John Masson. "Mongol manpower and Persian population." Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient/Journal de l'histoire economique et sociale de l'Orient (1975) ^1

Marco Polo, The Travels (Penguin, 1958) pp. 310-311 ^2

Sinor D. The mongol art of war: Chinggis khan and the mongol military system. The Journal of Military History. 2007;71(4):1223-1224. http://search.proquest.com/docview/195633223?accountid=458. ^3

David Morgan, The Mongols (1986); Morris Rossabi, China and Inner Asia (1975). ^4