Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World

When people hear the name Genghis Khan, they often picture a violent, merciless barbarian riding a horse and commanding a vicious band of nomad soldiers in the plundering of the civilised world. The startling reality, however, is that Genghis Khan was a visionary leader whose conquests brought together the thriving civilizations of Asia and backward Europe to spark a global awakening and an unparalleled burst of ideas, commerce, and technology. The incredible tale of Genghis Khan and his descendants, their conquest, and the alteration of the world is chronicled in Jack Weatherford's book Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World. Weatherford is the only Western scholar to have ever been permitted access to the Mongols' "Great Taboo," which is both their homeland and site of forbidden burial.

Genghis Khan, who battled his way to prominence on the isolated steppes of Mongolia, created innovative military tactics and equipment that placed a strong emphasis on swift assault and siege warfare. He then skillfully employed these tactics to route rival armies in Asia, destroy the Islamic world, and render Europe's armoured knights obsolete. The Mongol army under Genghis Khan never had more than 100,000 soldiers, yet in twenty-five years it captured more territory and people than the Romans did in four centuries. By uniting different countries into a new global order, the Mongols drastically altered the landscape of the world. Their empire spanned from Siberia to India, from Vietnam to Hungary, and from Korea to the Balkans.

Contrary to common belief, however, Weatherford shows that the Mongols were not only adept at conquering but also had a talent for kind and progressive governance. The breadth and depth of Genghis Khan's achievements defy comprehension from every angle and on every level. As the first emperor of several conquered nations to place the rule of law above personal authority, promote religious liberty, establish public education, provide diplomatic immunity, outlaw torture, and establish free commerce, Genghis Khan was a creative leader. His established trade channels were profitable avenues not just for goods but also for ideas, technology, and knowledge that revolutionised human existence. The Mongols created and disseminated innovative technologies including printing, the cannon, the compass, and the abacus. They also established the first postal service and paper money in history. They transformed commonplace items from their own region—lemons, carrots, noodles, tea, carpets, playing cards and pants—into global necessities. At a critical juncture in history, the Mongols were the designers of a novel way of living.

The authentic history of Genghis Khan is brought to life by Jack Weatherford in Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World. This includes the tale of his unrelenting ascent through Mongol tribal society, his extraordinarily successful battles, and the burst of civilization that the Mongol Empire caused. This brilliant piece of revisionist history pushes us to reevaluate how the contemporary world came to be in addition to providing an unparalleled portrayal of a great leader and his legacy.

taken from the hardback copy.