Tuesday

Mongolia:

The Mongols were excellent mounted archers. About 1208 AD, they used high stirrups which allowed them to shoot in every direction. They also used composite bows that had been modified to make it shorter (recurve) with draw weights of 70-160 lb. and used thumb rings to release their bowstrings which allowed them to considerably increase their range.

This enabled them to shoot while riding horses making them fierce conquerors. With their cavalry tactics centered on this capability they conquered and controlled most of modern day Asia and sections of Eastern Europe and even into the Middle East.