The Mongolian Empire draws some very interesting parallels to the Empire from the Star Wars saga. In the Star Wars saga, the Empire is depicted as the catalyst for war and fear throughout the span of space. Their ultimate goal was control of the entire universe, taking out one planet at a time. Similarly, the Mongolian Empire was hungry for conquest as well. Strategically, both empires carried similarities as well. In the saga, Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader’s empire plans to control the universe by taking over planets one-by-one. Genghis Khan also carried this trait as well. As the Mongols pushed West, hoping to one day conquer Europe, they took over civilizations one at a time.
Using superior military tactics and complete slaughter of the opposition, the Mongols used their power to take what they wanted. They used tactics, like cavalry and catapults, to gain an advantage over their opposition. I think this is an interesting parallel to the Empire as well, as they also used military force and technology to gain an advantage. For example, the Empire, under direction of Palpatine, built a superior weapon known as the Death Star that could destroy entire planets. They used this to their advantage to begin the spread of their rule.
Another similarity between the two is a creation of an identity for the empires. In Star Wars, the Empire, and those aligned with its cause, become a community over the idea that they will one day rule the universe. This mutual identity bonds them and creates a sense of unity amongst those believing in one cause, even if they are from different planets entirely. Similarly, Genghis Khan helped form this sense of community in the Mongolian rule as well. Before the Mongols were unified, they were a nomad people consisting of many tribes that were not often associated with one another as a sole community. However, Khan gave them a sense of unity and a cause that the Mongols rallied around and began to work together.
One final similarity between the two is that the end of both empires can be traced back to a specific event. In Star Wars, the Empire is effectively defeated after Luke Skywalker and the Rebellion destroy the Death Star and stop their conquest across the galaxy. The Mongolians are dismantled at the Battle of Ayn Jalut, which pretty much put the nail in the coffin for the empire. Ogedei Khan had died on the conquest to Europe, which halted the advance, and the defeat at Ayn Jalut dismantled the empire completely years later.
Similarities can be found between the Empire and our own government today, as well. For example, our nation plays a role as the “global peacekeeper” to other nations. We enter into conflicts solely to attempt to keep peace and to also showcase our power. Similarly, this is what the Empire does as well. The Rebels resist the establishment of the Empire and fight for their freedoms and what they think is right. According to the Odyssey, the rebels can be compared to groups like ISIS today. They play this part because they are “fighting for what they deem a ‘just cause.’” However, both the United States and the Empire attempt to quiet these groups for their own causes. Additionally, the United States attempts to control the beliefs and actions of other nations, much like the Empire did. As the Empire destroys and conquers planet after planet in the Star Wars universe, Princess Leia says a memorable quote to Grand Moff Tarkin: “The more you tighten your grip, the more star systems will slip through your fingers.” This is an interesting metaphor we can make for our current stance on being a global peacekeeper. I believe this is a debate worth having, whether the risks of being this dominant super power are worth all of the conflicts we find ourselves in.
Word Count: 648
Sources:
The West in the Pre-Modern World 
Eric,
Great work on your comparison between the Star Wars Empire and the Mongols. I had never realized how many similarities that the two civilizations have, especially in their conquest to expand their empires and their influence. I am sure the mongols would also attempt to conquer the galaxy if they had the capabilities. One point I would like to add that disagrees with your similarities between the two empires is that the Mongols were much more savage and dangerous than the Empire is in Star Wars. I realize that Star Wars is a pg-13 rated movie that is unable to show much of the terrible things that the Empire did to their people, but still knowing this, the Mongols were much more treacherous. For example, when raiding a village, the mongols would rape the women then kill both the women and children afterwards. In the Star Wars movies, the Empire usually just ends up shooting their enemy and they die immediately. Both are very cruel, however, the Mongols are much more cruel to this regards and I would much rather be conquered by the Empire as opposed to the Mongols.
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