The Horde's Steppe Law: How the Yasa Governed an Empire

In this episode of The Golden Horde: Mongol Rule Over Russia Explained, hosts Lucas and Luna explore the Yasa, the great legal code attributed to Genghis Khan that held the Mongol Empire together. They discuss how the Yasa blended tribal custom, military discipline, and religious tolerance, and how it was applied across the diverse peoples of the Jochid ulus. The conversation covers specific provisions—like the death penalty for stealing livestock or fleeing in battle—and the role of judges (yarguchi) who interpreted the code. Lucas explains how the Yasa coexisted with sharia law under Khan Uzbek, and how its principles influenced later Russian legal traditions, including Ivan III's Sudebnik. The episode also touches on the Great Yasa's mysterious disappearance after the empire's fragmentation, and the debate among historians over how much of it was truly written law versus oral tradition. Along the way, the hosts discuss the practical challenges of enforcing a single code across steppe nomads, Russian peasants, and Silk Road merchants. #Yasa #GenghisKhan #MongolLaw #JochidUlus #GoldenHorde #Sarai #KhanUzbek #Yarguchi #Sharia #IvanIII #Sudebnik #SteppeHistory #MongolEmpire #MedievalRussia #LegalHistory #CentralAsia #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo