The Horde's Steppe Law: Yasa and Justice Under Mongol Rule

The Great Yasa — the legal code attributed to Chinggis Khan — shaped justice across the Mongol Empire, but what did it actually mean for the Golden Horde? In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the Yasa governed everything from taxation and religious tolerance to military discipline and the treatment of ambassadors. They examine the tensions between steppe custom and Islamic sharia under Khan Uzbek, the role of the darughachi as judges and tax collectors, and the challenges of enforcing a single code across a diverse, sprawling ulus. Drawing on accounts from Ibn Battuta, William of Rubruck, and the Secret History of the Mongols, they unpack how the Yasa was both a living tradition and a source of political legitimacy — and why its influence faded as the Horde fragmented. Specific terms covered include: Yasa, yarligh, darughachi, baskak, ordu, kurultai, Chinggis Khan, Khan Uzbek, Jochid ulus, sharia, Ibn Battuta, and the Secret History of the Mongols. A fresh angle on Mongol justice for listeners who thought they knew the Horde. #Yasa #GreatYasa #MongolLaw #GoldenHorde #ChinggisKhan #KhanUzbek #JochidUlus #SteppeJustice #Darughachi #Baskak #MongolEmpire #Sarai #IbnBattuta #SecretHistoryOfTheMongols #MongolCustom #CentralAsia #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo