Psychological warfare and torture techniques in Mongols

In the Middle Ages, states used violent policies to protect their existence. Violence, war, and death were the most common phenomena in this age. The preservation of nations and states was associated with these three phenomena. Mongols, one of the nations of this age with significant military potential, grew stronger in the 13th century under the leadership of Genghis Khan and formed an empire that left violent memories in world history. It was an empire of fear that stood out with its military side. The reason why the name of the empire built by Genghis Khan is associated with the words fear and death is the strategies applied in accordance with the conditions of the Middle Ages. In the Secret History of the Mongols, it is mentioned that the Mongols were subjected to attacks and insults by other nations for centuries and that they were waiting for an inn to save them from this situation. Genghis Khan, who claimed to be the holy inn expected, was successful in using both the fears of the Mongols and the fears of rival nations. The key term at this point is the concept of national honor. The fact that the Mongols were attacked and insulted for centuries is a situation that damaged their dignity. It has also cost society. Genghis Khan's rulings, impressive speeches, and war strategies are also shaped around long-damaged national dignity. He motivated the Mongols to fight, triumph and conquer, in order not to fall into a weak situation as in previous years. The Mongolian nation would grow stronger as it triumphed and not be weak like their ancestors. He designed to frighten his enemies and take advantage of their fears while giving his own nation an unstoppable war potential that motivates and feeds on its fears. Genghis Khan developed many psychological warfare strategies for this purpose and used them in wars. Many of the Mongol khans who ascended the throne after Genghis Khan, just like him, used human psychology effectively to govern this great empire that stretched from the north of the Black Sea to Anatolia, from Iran to China. They applied psychological warfare strategies designed according to the conditions of both the enemy and the war in order to keep the perception of domination strong and to create a culture of obedience. The psychological warfare strategies used by the Mongols, who placed fear at the center of their policies of domination and obedience, brought with them many torture techniques. In this study, the psychological warfare strategies used by the Mongols and the effects of their torture on people were examined and their place in the administration of the empire was evaluated.