The Empire of the Mongols

John Man

Genghis Khan was the son of a Mongolian chieftain of insignificant and obscure origin, and yet he became a warrior and ruler of genius who in a generation created the world's greatest land-based empire. From the Danube to the Pacific, a third of the earth's surface was briefly under his sway. The Mongols attacked and shattered civilisations which had existed for centuries. China, Iran, India, Afghanistan, Turkey, Syria, Tibet, the new countires of Central Asia, the Ukraine, Russia, Hungary, Poland - all were changed by the outrush of cavalry from the Asiatic heartland. Genghis's conquests realigned the world's major religions - Christianity, Islam and Buddhism - had a massive effect on the culture of these usurped countries, influencing their art and architecture, and established important new trade patterns. The effects of this one man remain as a keystone in Eurasian history. Almost everyone knows the name of Genghis Khan but few know the details of his conquests, the way of life of his warriors or the character of the man. In this enthralling account John Man brings to life this extraordinarily fiercesome man, a brilliant military strategist, a man capable of winning generosity as well as genocidal brutality. Using new research and firsthand experience of Mongolia, he discusses the secret of Genghis's success, why his empire collapsed after such a short time, and examines the enduring effects and permanent cultural changes that remain as evidence of the great events unleashed by Genghis Khan.