"The Mongols were over rated"

[Jacob]

A colleague just advanced the thesis that "the Mongols were over rated. They were just a bunch of disorganized guys on horses who never fought against organized enemies, like the English."

Discuss.

[MadImmortalMan]

I heard the Mongols have a problem getting to islands.

[Jacob]

I heard the Mongols have a problem getting to islands.

Yeah.

Apparently the Armenians were being stupid because they didn't dig trenches and fill them with caltrops when they fought the Mongols.

[DGuller]

It depends on location.  If Mongols manage to take the battle to the open fields, then Mongols would win decisively, since their open field tactics had no counter at the time.  In the woods, I would definitely bet on the English.

[Admiral Yi]

The Mongols were extremely organized.

The better angle your colleague could have taken is how would the Mongol horse archers have faired against an army with large numbers of bowman who outranged them.

[Barrister]

So basically you opened this thread to backhandedly complain about how stupid your colleagues are?

[The Larch]

I bet those guys that make the "Pirate Vs. Medieval Knight" kind of shows have made this fight.

[mongers]

It depends on location.  If Mongols manage to take the battle to the open fields, then Mongols would win decisively, since their open field tactics had no counter at the time.  In the woods, I would definitely bet on the English.

Yes, this is perhaps the key determinant, given how mobile the Mongols were wouldn't they have a greater opportunity to choose the battlefield than the slow moving English on foot ?

I voted English out of Shakespearian patriotism, but I think the shock of encountering Mongols and their tactics, for the first time would be greater for the Engilsh than the potential novelty the Mongols might face.

[Jacob]

So basically you opened this thread to backhandedly complain about how stupid your colleagues are?

Nothing gets by you, eh?

[Admiral Yi]

You colleague is a clod and should hand over all his options and his hottie secretary to you.

[Valmy]

Well obviously if the English had tons of Longbowmen in a heavily fortified position and the Mongols launced a series of suicidal frontal assaults they might win but the Mongols would never do that.

Really this seems like an absurd question.  The Mongols would win easily.  I mean how many 10,000 man armies could 13th century England field?

[Ed Anger]

I bet those guys that make the "Pirate Vs. Medieval Knight" kind of shows have made this fight.

HISTORY DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY!!

[Jacob]

You colleague is a clod and should hand over all his options and his hottie secretary to you.

He's still on probation, but since he's a programmer his history related foibles won't be held against him.

[Eddie Teach]

I'm sure Somali pirates could take an equal number of medieval knights. 

[Jacob]

Well obviously if the English had tons of Longbowmen in a heavily fortified position and the Mongols launced a series of suicidal frontal assaults they might win but the Mongols would never do that.

Really this seems like an absurd question.  The Mongols would win easily.  I mean how many 10,000 man armies could 13th century England field?

Well, the mongols were never tested against an organized Western army like the one fielded by Richard the Lionheart. That, apparently, is the crux of the argument.