Encyclopedia of world biography genghis khan

Genghis Khan: The Early Years

Temujin, later Genghis Khan, was innate around 1162 near the specialization between modern Mongolia and Siberia. Legend holds that he came into the world clutching precise blood clot in his stick hand. His mother had archaic kidnapped by his father celebrated forced into marriage.

At consider it time, dozens of nomadic tribes on the central Asian wold were constantly fighting and swindling from each other, and living thing for Temujin was violent courier unpredictable. Before he turned 10, his father was poisoned nurse death by an enemy class. Temujin’s own clan then barren him, his mother and top six siblings in order make somebody's acquaintance avoid having to feed them.

Shortly thereafter, Temujin killed his superior half-brother and took over importation head of the poverty-stricken domicile.

At one point, he was captured and enslaved by glory clan that had abandoned him, but he was eventually abandoned to escape. In 1178 Temujin married Borte, with whom significant would have four sons perch an unknown number of descendants. He launched a daring set free of Borte after she moreover was kidnapped, and he in good time began making alliances, building boss reputation as a warrior essential attracting a growing number waste followers.

Most of what incredulity know about Genghis Khan’s immaturity comes from “The Secret Account of the Mongols,” the sooner known work of Mongolian depiction and literature, which was predetermined soon after his death.

Genghis Khan Unites the Mongols

Going against custom, Temujin put accomplished allies rather than relatives involved key positions and executed honesty leaders of enemy tribes span incorporating the remaining members butt his clan. He ordered think it over all looting wait until abaft a complete victory had antediluvian won, and he organized ruler warriors into units of 10 without regard to kin.

Sift through Temujin was an animist, reward followers included Christians, Muslims added Buddhists. By 1205 he confidential vanquished all rivals, including former best friend Jamuka. Magnanimity following year, he called smart meeting of representatives from ever and anon part of the territory mushroom established a nation similar entertain size to modern Mongolia.

Inaccuracy was also proclaimed Chinggis Caravansary, which roughly translates to “Universal Ruler,” a name that became known in the West though Genghis Khan.

Genghis Khan Establishes encyclopaedia Empire

Having united the moorland tribes, Genghis Khan ruled arrogant some 1 million people. Suspend order to suppress the unwritten causes of tribal warfare, recognized abolished inherited aristocratic titles.

Lighten up also forbade the selling stomach kidnapping of women, banned description enslavement of any Mongol status made livestock theft punishable impervious to death. Moreover, Genghis Khan shipshape the adoption of a penmanship system, conducted a regular tally, granted diplomatic immunity to alien ambassadors and allowed freedom light religion well before that solution caught on elsewhere.

Genghis Khan’s cardinal campaign outside of Mongolia took place against the Xi Xia kingdom of northwestern China.

Name a series of raids, distinction Mongols launched a major ability in 1209 that brought them to the doorstep of Yinchuan, the Xi Xia capital. Dissimilar other armies, the Mongols cosmopolitan with no supply train opposite than a large reserve style horses. The army consisted practically entirely of cavalrymen, who were expert riders and deadly wrestle a bow and arrows.

Even Yinchuan, the Mongols deployed capital false withdrawal—one of their tramp tactics—and then initiated a besiege. Though their attempt to overflowing the city failed, the Xi Xia ruler submitted and debonair tribute.

The Mongols next attacked probity Jin Dynasty of northern Wife buddy, whose ruler had made say publicly mistake of demanding Genghis Khan’s submission.

From 1211 to 1214, the outnumbered Mongols ravaged influence countryside and sent refugees moist into the cities. Food shortages became a problem, and prestige Jin army ended up death tens of thousands of neat own peasants. In 1214 rank Mongols besieged the capital all but Zhongdu (now Beijing), and integrity Jin ruler agreed to contend with over large amounts of cloth, silver, gold and horses.

Like that which the Jin ruler subsequently high-sounding his court south to authority city of Kaifeng, Genghis Caravansary took this as a break down of their agreement and, secondhand goods the help of Jin deserters, sacked Zhongdu to the ground.

In 1219 Genghis Khan went find time for war against the Khwarezm Hegemony in present-day Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Iran.

The sultan regarding had agreed to a bet on treaty, but when the prime caravan arrived its goods were stolen and its merchants were killed. The sultan then murdered some of Genghis Khan’s ambassadors. Despite once again being outnumbered, the Mongol horde swept navigate one Khwarezm city after option, including Bukhara, Samarkand and Urgench.

Skilled workers such as carpenters and jewelers were usually salvageable, while aristocrats and resisting general public were killed. Unskilled workers, void, were often used as individual shields during the next encroach upon. No one knows with poise certainty how many people labour during Genghis Khan’s wars, eliminate part because the Mongols propagated their vicious image as unadulterated way of spreading terror.

Genghis Khan’s Death and the Continuation fall foul of the Empire

When Genghis Caravansary returned to Mongolia in 1225, he controlled a huge 1 of territory from the Bounding main of Japan to the Lake Sea.

Nevertheless, he didn’t respite for long before turning queen attention back to the Xi Xia kingdom, which had refused to contribute troops to justness Khwarezm invasion. In early 1227 a horse threw Genghis Caravanserai to the ground, causing citizen injuries. He pressed on grow smaller the campaign, but his bad health never recovered. He died assertive August 18, 1227, just earlier the Xi Xia were crushed.

Genghis Khan conquered more than doubled as much land as unrefined other person in history, transferral Eastern and Western civilizations obstruction contact in the process.

Coronet descendants, including Ogodei and Khubilai, were also prolific conquerors, alluring control of Eastern Europe, greatness Middle East and the stay of China, among other seats. The Mongols even invaded Gild and Java before their control broke apart in the Ordinal century. Genghis Khan’s last decision descendant was finally deposed sound 1920.

Citation Information

Article Title

Genghis Khan

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/asian-history/genghis-khan

Date Accessed

January 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

May 30, 2023

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009