Reflection on Connection between Rise of Ghenghis Khan to the Era of Intense Spiritual and Intellectual Upheaval

It is important to look at some of the past events from history before making any connection between the Rise of Ghenghis Khan that how his presence made a significant change in the society, and how things were transformed in so many ways. It was an era of 1630s, when Venice was dealing with epidemic of modern plague, which was a deadly disease, and that’s why it was remembered as Black Death. The mortality rate was rising due to plague and there was no one stopping this disease to infect humans. The situation was getting out of control and that’s why record was being maintained to see how many deaths were happening due to plague (Ell 1989)

            When data was maintained for three days in 1630 from 23rd October to 25th October, it was shocking to know that 1163 deaths happened due to plague. The epidemic was not only limited to plague disease, rather it also came up with another epidemic of smallpox, which also played a part in large number of deaths in that particular period. The children, women as well as pregnant women were found to be most affected by this epidemic, and their death toll was rising with the passage of time. It was also found that mortality rate with other reasons was also rising, and things were becoming uncontrollable in the Europe (Ell 1989)

            This issue of plague epidemic was not minor one to be ignored as it was showing the real face of leadership in that era. The people were dying and no one was there to step up for people and find any pertinent solution for them so that things can be controlled. The epidemic got worst with the passage of time, and deaths were going unnoticed. It is important to mention here that things were getting difficult for Roman Church even before the start of plague epidemic. Different reformation forerunners started their work to change the perspective of society and during the 15th century, the corruption issue was highlighted amongst Roman Church senior clergy. This issue of corruption and reformation concept was already making things difficult for the Roman Church, and epidemic of plague was adding insult to injury by showing the true face of leadership, which had no concern about the people dying with such epidemics and mortality rate was getting at an alarming level (Christian Forums 2014)

            It is a fact that when things are not going well and when people are not able to get satisfaction with their current leadership, then they tend to differ from their policies, and look for alternatives so that they can get a better life with better solution of their problems. The Europe was struggling with the epidemic and there was no leader to stand up for them in this difficult time. When a nation goes through a difficult period, they look up to their leadership that how they react and respond. The Roman Church’s response to these epidemic situations was equal to zero, and their leadership was also charged with corruption allegations, putting more question marks on their leadership. So, it was a time, when people always look for some change so that they can get rid of their problems, and they try to find an idea or leader, who can get them out of trouble.

            It was a difficult period in history for the followers of Roman Church, as plague epidemic was killing them, and there was no one to save them. Majority of people believed that plague epidemic is happening because God was angry with them. So, people were afraid and they were looking to find answers why God is angry and how they can get out of such situation. It is a fact that some of people tried to find relevant answers through scientific knowledge, which was still developing, and others were looking for a new faith, which could get them out of trouble. They were looking for new faith, because their existing faith associated with Roman church was not giving any answers to their problems. In this darkest of times, Roman faith should have given them hope, but Roman church was not able to do so. So, things were quickly changing in that period (McIntosh 2018)

            Meanwhile, the Mongol Empire was spreading across different parts of the world, and they were conquering different regions. There are many things associated with the Mongol Empire like they were brutal and they killed so many people etc, but their contribution to develop a modern globalized society was also significant. They came up with so many ideas in that period of time, when others had no particular ideas to innovate anything. This great ability of the Mongol Empire was enhanced with the Rise of Ghenghis Khan, who said to be the father of modern society in so many ways. He was brutal in nature, but he was said to be one of the best innovators in history, as his entry into different parts of the world transformed and changed societies. The people were able to do things, which they never thought of before the Rise of Ghenghis Khan (McLynn 2019)

            After looking a different aspects of the era of intense spiritual as well as intellectual upheaval, and looking at different issues from the past such as epidemic of plague along with the Rise of Ghenghis Khan; all of these facts have shown one thing, and that is the transformation of society looking for new leadership and faith to get going. All of these changes as well as issues directly or indirectly contributed to the Protestant Reformation, because people in Europe were disappointed from the Roman Church, and they believed that Roman faith can’t cure their issues and problems. The Rise of Ghenghis Khan changed society as well as their faith search lead to the Protestant Reformation, because a change is always a positive thing to experience.

References of Connection between Rise of Ghenghis Khan to the Era of Intense Spiritual and Intellectual Upheaval

Christian Forums. Did Black Plague/Nature + Disease shaped the Protestant Reformation. 2014. https://www.christianforums.com/threads/did-black-plague-nature-disease-shaped-the-protestant-reformation.7854927/page-2 (accessed October 17, 2019).

Ell, Stephen R. "Three Days in October of 1630: Detailed Examination of Mortality during an Early Modern." Reviews of Infectious Diseases 11, no. 1 (1989): 128-139.

McIntosh, Matthew A. The Mongol Empire, Genghis to Kublai Khan. 2018. https://brewminate.com/the-mongol-empire-genghis-to-kublai-khan/ (accessed October 17, 2019).

McLynn, Frank. The brutal brilliance of Genghis Khan. 2019. https://www.historyextra.com/period/medieval/the-brutal-brilliance-of-genghis-khan/ (accessed October 17, 2019).