Nathaniel Scott Grady-Reitan

Period number 3

Mr. Mooney’s class

Professional human being

The Extent of Ghengis Khan’s Empire

The Story Behind the Khan

Ghengis Khan.

The End.

Works Cited

I can’t believe that you fell forthat. What idiots.

The REAL Ghengis Khan

Ghengis Khan, the unifier of Mongolia, isconsidered by some to be a tyrannical andevil historical figure. To many others,however, he is the hero and even god oftheir country. He did possibly what noother man would have been able to do. Hesettled the disputes between tribes on thesteppe and birthed a nation with acommon identity in which his progenywould rule for generations to come.

Early LifeLike most other human beings,

Ghengis Khan was born out ofthe womb of a woman, to beprecise, his mother’s womb. Hisactual name was Temüjin andhis childhood was a miserableperiod in his life. His father waspoisoned and killed, his tribeabandoned him and his family,and his wife was kidnapped. Allof these things were majorfactors in the development of thebattle-ready Ghengis Khan thatwould reshape Asia.

Intermission

You may now take a few minutes to relaxand stretch your legs. Go outside if youmust; I grant you permission.

"Those who were adept and brave fellows I have made militarycommanders. Those who were quick and nimble I have madeherders of horses. Those who were not adept I have given asmall whip and sent to be shepherds"--Ghengis Khan

Intermission

You may now take a few minutes to relaxand stretch your legs. Go outside if youmust; I grant you permission.

"With Heaven's aid I have conquered for you a huge empire.But my life was too short to achieve the conquest of the world.That task is left for you."--Ghengis Khan, to his sons at the end of his life

Intermission

You may now take a few minutes to relaxand stretch your legs. Go outside if youmust; I grant you permission.

“Genghis Khan prayed alone on a mountain, bowing down and stating hiscase to "his supernatural guardians," describing the grievances, thetortures and killings that generations of his people had suffered at thehands of the Ruzhen. And he pleaded that he had not sought war againstthe Ruzhen and had not initiated the quarrel.”

--Jack Weatherford

Intermission

You may now take a few minutes to relaxand stretch your legs. Go outside if youmust; I grant you permission.

We’re Back…Ghengis Khan fought through life in its early

stages and became the prodigy of Toghril, theruler of the Kereits and blood-brother of hisfather. Toghril was a powerful Khan who tookTemüjin under his wing and provided him withthe military power to win back his wife and also aposition in which he could regain family pride.He slaughtered the tribe that kidnapped his wife,Borte. This was one of the first demonstrationsof Ghengis Khan’s controversial diplomaticpolicy.

All who surrender will be spared;whoever does not surrender but opposes with struggle and dissension,shall be annihilated.--Genghis Khan

Quotes

“The Greatest Happiness is to scatter your enemyand drive him before you. To see his citiesreduced to ashes. To see those who love himshrouded and in tears. And to gather to yourbosom his wives and daughters.”

--Ghengis Khan

“It is not sufficient that I succeed--all others mustfail.”

--Ghengis Khan

Numerous ConquestsGhengis Khan is most remembered for his fierceand coordinated military successes. After unifyingthe Mongolian tribes and establishing order on thesteppes of Asia, Ghengis Khan used hit and runtactics with organized groupings of skilledmounted archers to carve out the largest landempire ever in existence.

"Heaven has appointed me to rule all thenations, for hitherto there has been no orderupon the steppes."--Ghengis Khan

Numerous Conquests continued…

The great Khan did not wish to conquer the world at first.Through viewing the imperfections of foreign rulers,however he came to realize that he was meant to rule.He conquered Chinese states, middle-eastern states,and even northern provinces of India. With an empire solarge built of so many different demographics, theinnovative ruler became one of the first in history toenforce religious toleration. He also introduced universallaws just as the Romans had done in their Empire.

"I will rule them by fixed laws [so] that rest and happiness shallprevail in the world.“

--Ghengis Khan

Trouble at Home

While the great warrior-king was offconquering all of Asia, discontent grewin his homeland as the captured goodsand luxury items from numerousconquests flowed in a flux back to thesteppe and spoiled its inhabitants. Thegeneral greediness of the populationdrove Ghengis Khan to initiate moreand more campaigns. This discontentpassed in the natural course of time,but Ghengis Khan made Mongolia avery wealthy nation with a highstandard of living. Former tribalnomads began to settle in sophisticatedcities with Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhistarchitecture. The great Khanintroduced a universal written languagewithin Mongolia that is still used in InnerMongolia today.

“Genghis Khan's greatest accomplishments, however, cannotbe counted in terms of territory or victories, but in the presenceof a Mongol nation and culture.”

-Dr. Timothy May, Genghis Khan

Legacy of Ghengis Khan

After his death, the greatGhengis Khan left his empireto his bickering sons, with onlyhope that it would sticktogether. For the most part itdid, and the traditions andculture that he innovated dugin through the ages and iswidely accepted in modernMongolian daily life.

Naysayers

“Historians of the states he conquered, notably the Chinese and Persians who suffered greatly at thehands of Genghis and his descendants, stress his ruthless, indeed bloodthirsty tactics—massacring whole cities that resisted him. The Mongols have traditionally revered him as thefather of their nation, who introduced a script for writing the Mongol language, and writing, andpromulgated a harsh but fair code of law over his entire domain.”

--Tim Spalding

With all of his successes for the general good of Mongoliaas a nation, Ghengis Khan has been assessed from anegative viewpoint in the regions that he onceconquered. Although he “promoted” religious toleration,he persecuted all Muslims that he conquered. If hisexact will was not obeyed by subjects, he respondedwith unforgiving annihilation. His pride and angerdictated his actions much of the time and led to hostiletake-overs of cities that included looting, burning, andrape. In retaliation, he often slaughtered his “enemies”so that he would not have to listen to their complaints.With all of his shortcomings, Ghengis Khan still fatheredan innovating and highly sophisticated nation.

Works Cited

Hoang, Michel. Genghis Khan. New York: Saqi Books,1993.

May, Timothy. "Ghengis Khan (1165-1227)." Mongols.2001. North Georgia College and State University. 10May 2008<http://www.accd.edu/sac/history/keller/Mongols/empsub1.html>.

Spalding, Tim. "Who Was Ghengis Khan." Ghengis Khanon the Web. 10 May 2008 <http://www.isidore-of-seville.com/genghis/>.

Weatherford, Jack. Genghis Khan and The Making of theModern World. New York: Three Rivers P, 2004.

Conclusion

Ghengis Khan was no doubt a ruthless andterrifying ruler. Nonetheless he created aculture and means of living that gave newbirth to the Steppes of Asia. Heestablished safe and free trade within hisconquered lands, which influenced thedevelopment of the Silk Road andinnovated Religious Toleration as well as anational language.

Questions?