Spotlight: Genghis Khan

A difficult nomadic childhood and youth taught him the importance of diplomacy and alliances. Prior to becoming Khan of the Mongols, he successfully untied many smaller nomadic tribes into a single cultural identity, that of the Mongols. This act provided the basis for his powerful and brutal armies, and his military successes. Temuujin became Genghis Khan in 1206, after creating a single unified army and confederacy of the nomadic Mongol tribes.

One of the most memorable historical stories surrounds his death. Genghis Khan’s body was escorted to a place unknown to this day, although likely somewhere in Mongolia. History tells us that anyone who met with his funeral escort was put to death to keep the site of his grave hidden from all.In the West, Genghis Khan is often remembered for the brutality of his troops and his rule. In the East, he is a great and much loved historical figure. Without a doubt, Genghis Khan was a great ruler who led his people, maintained order, and expanded his empire. He was also a brutal man, and one who led with force and fear. Rebellion was squashed quickly and his troops killed both soldiers and civilians. Genghis Khan was a great military leader, a fine strategist and an able administrator. He employed the most modern military technology and strategy, but part of his success was in his very brutality. There was no room for anything but surrender in the Mongol empire under Genghis Khan.

Genghis Khan’s armies took control of a huge amount of land, and over the thirteenth century, the Mongol empire expanded even further, eventually becoming the second largest empire in the history of the world, even today.