New exhibit brings ancient Mongolian artifacts and way of life to Mile High City.
Artwork by Rebecca Holt
The Denver Museum of Nature and Science was remodeling a section of the museum right after the Nature Unleashed exhibition, and finished just in time for the opening of Genghis Khan. Genghis Kahn ruled over a powerful empire with his strong military force and legendary leadership, and this exhibit includes many historic items and interactive elements for attendees.
Genghis Khan grew up in poor conditions. His family was poor, but he believed he was destined for greatness. Eventually he gathered a small band of warriors. Khan continued to add other nomadic warriors to his group, and recruited all of the roaming pillagers and added them to his army. Khan used spies in cities to learn the roads and learn about the people years, sometimes decades, before he attacked. When he took siege of cities, he disposed of everyone except the scientists, engineers, and the best fighters. When fighters were recruited from a city, they were placed in armies very distant from each other to prevent any conspiracies. This strategy helped Khan’s army, and led the way for explosive fighting tactics and advanced weaponry through metalworking. The army had specially designed bows that could fire arrows over long distances with minimal physical effort, and built powerful siege machines.
Genghis Khan’s empire grew to be four times greater than that of Alexander the Great. He used effective fighting tactics, many of which are found in the sixth century text, Art of War by Sun Tzu. Khan would do whatever he had to do to win. A few cities were conquered without battles, and the enemy surrendered out of fear, but the battles they did fight were intense. The Mongol army was commanded by flags and whistling arrows. The whistling arrows signaled attacks and changes in the middle of a battle when flags wouldn’t be visible. The main battle tactics involved firing arrows and rotating groups of light and heavily armed cavalry in attacks. Their first strike was firing arrows to intimidate the enemy. Then, light-armed cavalry came in from different directions and rotated in different groups. Later came heavy cavalry equipped with lots of armor and strong weapons to clear out the battlefield. “Compared to golf, it’s like watching a hockey game. It was a blitzkrieg type of attack,” said Michael Hitchcock, a museum staff member. However, Genghis Khan never went into battle if he was uncertain of a win.
In the exhibit are ancient items from the 12th-13th centuries during Genghis Khan’s rule. Silk clothes, jackets and tools are simply amazing to see. One of the unique artifacts is the metal passports that were given to certain noblemen, which guaranteed safe passage through the Mongol kingdom. A ger (a soldier’s home that was easily dismantled and transported), is displayed, along with decorative cases that Mongols used to carry supplies when they were on the move. There were many artifacts like saddles, stirrups, and bridle bits in the exhibit. Horses were a large part of Mongolian culture. In most cases, the Mongolian army was horse cavalry. Also, horses were crafted into their art and musical instruments. The Morin Khuur (horse-head fiddle) was an instrument made with hairs from horsetails and the end of the neck is endowed with a handmade horse’s head. There is a traditional dancer that wears ceremonial garb and a Morin Khuur player that perform during part of the exhibit. Some aspects of Mongolian culture, like carrying collapsible homes and circling the enemy in a fight, are shared with Native Americans.
The Genghis Khan exhibit also has a new interactive aspect. As someone enters the museum, they are handed a pamphlet and a slip of paper that has a specific name on it. At various parts of the exhibit, there are computers where people select the name of the person that is on their paper. Theses terminals tell the story of the life of someone involved with Genghis Khan in the twelfth century. The word “Horde” originated from the Mongolian word, “orda” which means “The Khan’s residence”
The Genghis Khan Exhibit will be at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science until February 7th, 2010, and a student ticket costs $13. The exhibit opends at 9:15 am and closes at four o’clock in the afternoon.
