WI the Mongols go north?

even though they built the largest empire in history, for the most part the Mongols did not go north of lake Baikal.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Mongol_Empire_map.gif)

as in that.

what would it take for the mongols to conquer that territory? I realize it was almost entirely unpopulated, and maybe that would be a good thing for them, more steppes for their cavalry. so what would happen if Genghis orders the greater Yakutia area to be conquered by the hordes, and what would result?

it wouldn't have any significance, but maybe the Mongols would eventually settle the empty areas over time... but what do you think?
 
What *was* there? IIRC there weren't even overland trade routes back then, so would they achieve more than badly scaring a bunch of nomad pastoralists and hunter-gatherers? They might start to collect yasak in furs like the Khanate of Sibir did later, but I really don't see the appeal. Especially not compared with China or Iraq.
 
As Carlton said, what is there in the Siberian primeval forests that is more appealing than the riches of China, Central Asia, and the Near East?
 
you're right that there is nothing. but maybe they would go for hundreds of miles of open space... for their horses to graze in, just like a free steppe to live in.

maybe it's not part of the wholesale Mongol conquest, what if a group of Mongols settle there independently of Genghis, but around the same time? maybe they were exiled by slighting the Khan, or some other offense. I don't know...
 
Horses cannot graze on perennial tree forests that are frozen half of the year. In fact, Siberia is so unfriendly and different to Mongolia that back in Gengis' time, being exiled to Siberia was considered a worse condemn than death.
 
In OTL Siberia was settled by the Russians through systematic deportations. Maybe instead of slaughtering whole cities the Mongols could deport the population to Siberia for the fur, gold, and lumber. A Mongolian gulag system if you will.

Such a program will also require a massive initial investment and considerable management, probably infeasible for the Mongols.
 

NapoleonXIV

Banned
It also becomes very rugged topography. My understanding is that there is a defile near the Bering strait that rivals the Grand Canyon in size and some very tall mountains.

If you somehow gave the Mongols an exploring tradition like the Roman legions had it might work. They could even cross over into Alaska.

Maybe a legend to pursue. A golden city derived from sightings of the long distance mirages prevalent in the are.
 
Horses cannot graze on perennial tree forests that are frozen half of the year. In fact, Siberia is so unfriendly and different to Mongolia that back in Gengis' time, being exiled to Siberia was considered a worse condemn than death.



hmm... that might complicate things a lot .

that is interesting, Napoleon... sort of like a Mongol El Dorado?
 
-There is plenty of grazing space for the Mongol's horses as it is.

-Seeing as they are a nomadic pastoral society, they wouldn't have much need for timber

-There were actual cities full of gold (that didn't need mining infrastructure and experience) to the south and west which were pillagable.

-IIRC the Mongols got all the fur they needed from the animals they raised.

-To cross over into Alaska one needs boats...
 
The original question asks why didn't the Mongols conquer Siberia. The anwers is they didn't need to because there is no one there to contest Mongol claims.

The concept of national territory is not the same back then. It's not like the Mongols drew a line on a map and said "we don't claim Siberia". As far as they were concerned it was part of their realm until someone shows up with an army and says otherwise. Hypothetically speaking if you had an army and wanted to march them into Siberia because you think it's outside of Mongol territory, that would be a big mistake.

Mongol territory is everywhere that the Mongol army went and crushed resistance. There were no resistance in Siberia for the Mongols to bother.
 
-IIRC the Mongols got all the fur they needed from the animals they raised.

There's a big difference between sheepskin and Siberian winter marten, squirrel and mink. If they were to go, valuable tradable luxury furs might be a motivation, as they later were for the Tatars and Russians. I just think they had bigger fish to fry under Genghis and his successors.

When *did* the Tatars go into Siberia, anyway?
 

NapoleonXIV

Banned
There's a big difference between sheepskin and Siberian winter marten, squirrel and mink. If they were to go, valuable tradable luxury furs might be a motivation, as they later were for the Tatars and Russians. I just think they had bigger fish to fry under Genghis and his successors.

When *did* the Tatars go into Siberia, anyway?

AFAIK, never.

This area is amazingly remote, in 1970 when the Baikal to Amur spur of the Trans Siberian RR was being built they ran into tribes that honestly asked how the tsar was doing. :eek:
 
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