“The Mongols did not find honor in fighting; they found honor in winning.”–Jack Weatherford, Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World

How much do you know about Genghis Khan? I’ll admit I didn’t know much other than that he was a fierce warrior and leader whose army was extremely successful at conquering and subjugating. This compelling and fascinating book by Jack Weatherford sheds much more light on Genghis Khan and the Mongols.

The Mongols conquered more land in twenty five years than the Romans did in 400 and I was amazed at the extent of Genghis Khan’s influence. He granted religious freedom, did away with torture, and destroyed the ancient feudal systems of aristocrats. Most of the countries he conquered experienced greater prosperity and cultural advancement in the years after.

All this and more is described in Weatherford’s book on the stunning advancements made during the 25 years of Mongol rule. I highly recommend the book but be advised there is some graphic violence as some of the battles and interactions between Khan and others are described.

Content Advisory: Violence, war violence, death, murder