How Genghis Khan pretty much made the modern world through his conquests and consolidation of territory is the basis of a book written by Jack Weatherford. In this writing the book pretty much sums up the Mongol empire and how it came to be and its influence of the rest of the world. My assumptions that the American empire is a temporary entity much like Mongol rule was is a comparison and revelation many North American Indians hold and hope. Genghis Khan was a visionary leader whose empire stretched ideas and trade through the ages improving communication and ideas across continents. The contemporary vision of Mongols as ruthless genocidal killers is not shared by author Jack Weatherford who contends Mongol rule and empire was very important for people on the steeps and rekindled a new awakening of culture and civilization.
This book was an excellent read and source of the Mongols and gives a visual to the reader of the type of world that Genghis grew up into on the steppes of Asia where raiding neighboring tribes for women was as common as a cup of joe in the morning. This book describes his humble origins and sudden rise as top Mongol with a incredible knowledge of tactical warfare. Khan soon would be conquering neighboring Islamic rich empires after conquering his fellow nomads on the steppes and this is where the great khan made his jingle.
Genghis Khan was a very loyal man but piss him off as the Sultan of Khwarizm did and you would see your lands levels and title stripped to a common peasant. Jack Weatherford often goes on speaking tours describing the rich culture of the Mongols and their impressive Khan vs Sultan battles for control of the world landscape. The common misrepresented numbers of victims of the Mongols through the generations was based on anger and hatred that this sudden force was able to easily make their stay and sway local customs as Weatherford often states through his speaking tours on this subject. Contrary to what has been written about the Mongols, Genghis Khan was often a benevolent and progressive ruler for the day and often went after the elites of the empires he over through whose oppressive rue often swelled the ranks of the Mongols themselves and along with the warfare genius of Genghis many lands were conquered and much tribute booty was paid to the Mongols and their allies.
The Mongols though as the book points out, were a temporary empire whose borders would soon shrink as greedy nobles and advanced technology spread to these other lands and resistance to Mongol domination developed. the same process seeing the end of American empire and dominance is playing to affect.
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