Genghis Khan was the first emperor of the Mongol Empire, known for his military prowess and brutal policies. He united the tribes of Mongolia into a coherent empire with uniform laws and policies. Khan’s conquests did more than accumulate land, he introduced record-keeping, the rule of law, efficient trade routes, and religious tolerance. He died in battle in 1227, and his empire was ruled by his sons and grandsons.
Genghis Khan was the first emperor of the Mongol Empire, an ancient world power believed to have been the largest and most enduring empire in history. In ancient dialects, the word “Genghis” meant something along the lines of “supreme leader” and “Khan” was the honorific given to monarchs and rulers. In combination, then, there’s nothing terribly unique about the name, but the man behind it has become a well-known figure in world history. Legend has it that he gave himself the name after assuming power in the early 1200s; his birth name was Temujin. He is primarily known for his military prowess and is credited with uniting many if not most of the tribes of what is now Mongolia into a coherent empire with uniform laws, rules, and policies. Some of this union was the result of Khan’s leadership and influence, but much of it was also due to his policies of brutality and forced submission. He is primarily remembered by historians as a man of immense power and tremendous destruction. His legacy is probably one of the anchors of the modern world, but it came at a price.
Mongolia in context
The Mongol landscape was one of frequent warfare and rival clans in the early 1200s when Khan came to power. The land was sparsely populated and there were many tribes competing for the same limited resources. In general the tribes did not have any kind of formal educational structure and most of their energy was spent on coordinating attacks and strategically planning warfare and defense on land. While people often focus on the brutality of the Khan Empire, it’s also important to remember that the violence introduced by the regime was really nothing new. Khan’s efforts were more coordinated and on a larger scale, and in part that’s what makes them notable; however they have not changed the tone of the landscape as much as they have intensified it.
Rise to power
Most scholars do not think that Khan was born into a royal family or any kind of hereditary leadership. His family was probably a member of one of the more powerful nomadic tribes, and he probably saw war from an early age. He may have been trained as a warrior, and it is usually agreed that one of his earliest battles was waged in revenge for his father’s death at the hands of the Tatars, one of the most powerful tribes of the age.
One of the first things he is thought to have done as a young warrior was to create a common confederacy or alliance among the tribes to unify their strength and ability to fight. In 1202, he had created a force of intimidation and they attacked and conquered the Tartars in the east. The early success against him is believed to have impressed the aging Mongol king, and the younger Temujim became heir to the throne.
According to ancient documents, he was crowned in 1206 and gave himself the name of “Genghis Khan” or “emperor of all emperors”. With this title he continued the process he had already begun, namely the organization of warriors and the consolidation of the Mongol tribes.
Role in uniting tribes and introducing uniform laws
Khan raised his troops and worked to unite the tribes of all of what is now Mongolia. In 1210 he conquered the Tangut kingdom and fought against the Ruzhen in northeastern China. His string of conquests was strengthened by his innovative military strategies. He conquered Transoxiana, Bukhara, Uzbekistan and Samarkand. In the following years he and his troops conquered Persia, Azerbaijan and Armenia.
In 1225, he returned as ruler of large swathes of land from the Caspian Sea down to Korea, a landmass known as the Mongol Empire. This empire was significantly larger than the country known today as Mongolia, although the modern nation is believed to be the origin and birthplace of Genghis Khan. He had more power over the world than any other conqueror at any time in history, and his empire surpassed even that of Rome. The tactics he employed are widely believed to be quite brutal and he has used tremendous force against warriors and citizens alike.
Other cultural and social contributions
Khan’s conquests did more than just accumulate land. Most scholars think that he did a great job of uniting people living in all parts of his kingdom, and was able to inspire many ideas about Mongol unity. He is credited with introducing record keeping and the rule of law into agrarian society. He is also believed to have established efficient trade routes and rewarded lucrative business ventures, and insisted on a society that was tolerant of many different religious traditions and customs of the faith.
Death
In 1227 another battle raged between the Mongols and the Tanguts, who lived in what is now central China. It is believed that during this battle Khan fell from his horse and died; he is estimated to have been around 65 years old. The huge Mongol empire was then ruled by Genghis Khan’s sons and grandsons: Ögedei and Kubilai Khan.
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