5. Genghis Khan: The Mongol King of Logistics

Logisticians are dazzling masterminds who use ingenuity to transport cumbersome supplies across vast distances and over some of the world's most challenging terrain. These transportation experts used manpower and pure mechanical force to get things where they needed to be.

Long before UPS and third-party logistics companies, these historic logisticians were laying the groundwork that powers commerce today.

Over the next several weeks I will unveil seven of history's most innovative logisticians as told by Philip Rudy a contractor for Diakon Logistics.

5. Genghis Khan: The Mongol King of Logistics

He doesn't look so tough.

The Mongol Empire was a military superpower that had outstanding logistical strategies. Both Kublai Khan and Genghis Khan were excellent logisticians that helped their armies overcome brutal adversaries.

The Mongol forces brought their families with them on all of their campaigns. They lived largely off the land and on stores of dry meat. Soldiers were provided with fish hooks and tools that gave them access to natural food supplies. Each soldier would have three or four horses and a large supply of arrows. The army could use their spare horses as an emergency food source that would provide sustenance for one month. This strategy required the army to find pasture land and adequate water for their animals. However, it was successful, efficient and required minimal resources, which are still desirable traits today.