The name Genghis Khan brings to mind thundering hordes of
Mongol horsemen, slashing and burning their way through civilized nations. Most of us know little about the Mongol
ruler. In 1956, Howard Hughes made a
movie about Genghis Khan called “The Conqueror” with John Wayne in the title
role which was less than historical and is best forgotten.
In Genghis Khan andthe Making of the Modern World, author Jack Weatherford illuminates the
rather obscure origins of this 12th and 13th century
leader. According to Weatherford, “Whether
measured by the total number of people defeated, the sum of the countries
annexed, or by the total area occupied, Genghis Khan was the most successful
conqueror in world history, and he redrew the boundaries of the world.”
Genghis Khan or Temujin, his original name, does have a
bloody back story. He murdered his own
brother to allow himself to become leader of the family clan and did not hesitate
to dispatch by the sword long time friends and family members who opposed
him. Despite this violent beginning, Weatherford
argues that the Mongol leader became a gifted leader whose innovative military
tactics and creative methods of governance transformed the world and laid the
foundation for trade routes, customs, and nations that survive until today.
This ruler who came from humble origins not only valued the
education and skills of those he conquered, but he sought to incorporate loyal
and talented individuals—no matter their race or religion—into the governance
of his empire. Although he was a
follower of “the Eternal Blue Sky,” a tribal religion based in the mountains of
his homeland, he promoted religious tolerance for all faiths and included Jews,
Muslims, Christians, and Buddhists among his advisors. When representatives from the Pope tried to
proselytize and make exclusive claims about the Christian faith, however, they
were ejected from the court.
Weatherford writes, “At a time when most rulers considered
themselves to be above the law, Genghis Khan insisted on laws holding rulers as
equally accountable as the lowest herder. He granted religious freedom within
his realms, though he demanded total loyalty from conquered subjects of all
religions.” At a time when Western Europe lived in squalor and fear, Genghis
Khan was building an empire that promised peace and prosperity for all its
citizens, not matter their social or racial status.
Weatherford’s book provides an informative background to
modern culture and civilization. As we
seek ways to bring people of different cultures together today, we need to
understand how we got to where we are. Genghis
Khan and the Making of the Modern World helps to provide this background.
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