Jack Weatherford
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World (2004)
Author: Jack Weatherford
Genre: Non-Fiction (History/Biography)
Book Summary:
Weatherford seeks to rehabilitate the image of one of history’s most notorious conquerors. This book’s Genghis Khan is not a bloodthirsty barbarian, but rather is a visionary leader who transformed his culture, united his people, and conquered much of Asia. Born with the name Temujin, Genghis Khan overcame a troubled childhood as a servant, rising to be Great Khan due to his charisma, leadership, and abilities as a warrior. Genghis Khan and his descendents conquered much of China, the Middle East, and Russia, creating new forms of warfare, overpowering all enemies. Rather than the destructive rule long depicted in the West, the Mongols here are benevolent to loyal subjects, granting local autonomy and religious freedom. Indeed, the greatest achievement of the Mongols was to usher in the modern age by bringing East and West together.
Geographical Setting: Asia
Time Period: 12th and 13th Centuries
Appeal Characteristics:
An excellent introduction to a famous man, his culture, and his times, Weatherford’s book will satisfy readers interested in biographies, Asian history, or military history. Genghis Khan remains a mysterious figure to many in the West, but here he leaps alive as a charismatic and transformative figure. The book provides strong historical detail in addition to readable writing. Curious readers will find Genghis Khan fascinating: to put his accomplishments in American terms, Weatherford writes that his achievement would approximate a slave who “united the colonies, freed America from Europeans, created an alphabet, wrote the constitution, established universal religious freedom, invented a new system of warfare, and marched an army from Canada to Brazil.”
Similar Authors: Paul Ratchnevsky; John Man; Tom Holland; Harold Lamb; Simon Sebring Montefiore
Red Flags: None
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