Jack Weatherford

A lot of the negative reviews for this book take issue with its true historicity and its revisionist and somewhat unapologetic agenda. I admit that I got into the book expecting it to be an account of Genghis Khan's conquests with an addendum expounding his legacy, but it was rather the other way around. However, I think it was also quite clear from the outset that Jack Weatherford's aim in this book was not to recount historical facts, but rather to approach the entire perception of the Mongol Empire from a different angle.

I thought the book was well-written and easy to read, and was only after I finished reading it that I realised it's actually almost 15 years old. Although undeniably biased towards the Mongols, it certainly does the job of shedding light on elements of the Mongol story that aren't often the focus of historical accounts, and raises some thought provoking points regarding the some more subtle impacts that Genghis Khan had on the world.

Ultimately, to quote Mr Ollivander, I think Genghis Khan has to be considered 'Terrible, but great'. This book may sway slightly too far in favour of the 'great', but it's good to reminded about that perspective of history in a well articulated read.… (més)

This book flipped my preconceived notions of the Mongols completely on its head. I *knew* that the Mongolian Empire brought an exchange of ideas, goods, etc. between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. I didn't realize the true extent of the exchange and the full impact this brief empire had on the world. Nor did I truly grasp the negative campaigns against Asians (specifically the Mongols) by the Europeans as well as Communist China and Russia. Very interesting stuff.

The first part of the book is all about the life of Genghis Khan and how he formed the empire. The second part delves into his descendants and their affect on the empire. The last part deals with the decline of the empire and up to modern day. Weatherford is an archaeologist and worked with a team of folks translating ancient texts as well as pulling in other writings about Genghis Khan. However, it doesn't read like a dry history book. It almost felt like reading a fiction book, but then you remember this is history.

Definitely worth your time if you're at all curious about Genghis Khan and/or the Mongolian Empire.… (més)

Our history lessons glossed over the Mongol empire which largely controlled Asia in the late 13th and 14th centuries.

But the rise of Ghengis Khan and his children added many innovations to warfare, governance, and the unification of many ethnic groups, not the least of which were the Chinese and Russians.

Khan’s armies innovated in mobile warfare, the use of canon, and siege engines.

His grandson Kubilei Khan reigned over an age of massive growth of trade, standardization of currency, the invention of diplomatic immunity, even the separation of church and state.

And the expedited trade routes also ultimately became the conduit of pandemic.

The modern world really is a stepchild to the one the Mongols created eight centuries ago.… (més)