Question

Keeping the nomadic element of the Mongol and Bedouin societies in mind, how, in your opinion, did their respective historical experiences differ? What explanations would you suggest account for these difference?

Answer 1

The Mongols and the Bedouins were nomadic, but the historical experiences of their societies were different. These differences are enlisted below.

1) The Mongols were the barbaric nomads who waged ruthless wars to expand their settlements, while the Bedouins were non-barbaric.

2) The Bedouins did not adhere to any law or authority and did not believe in settling down; . On the other hand, the Mongols expanded their territories and created an empire; they laid down laws and ran societies.

3) Both the tribes traded with cities, but while the Bedouins traded without much conflict, the Mongols waged wars with the trading cities to turn the scales in their favour. The barbaric Mongols massacred people in villages and destroyed their agricultural lands, while the Bedouins settled in tillable lands and lived rather peacefully.

The Bedouins were interested in culture; they composed songs, music and stories. This literary aspect was missing in the Mongols.
According to me, the reason for the difference in their experiences is the difference in the landscape and climate in which the two tribes survived. The harsh climate and difficulty in cultivation drove the Mongols to abandon all forms of agriculture and resort to hunting and livestock rearing. The hostilities faced by them made them hardened marauders.