Genghis Khan's Accomplishments

Genghis Khan is reputed to have said, “The greatest happiness is to scatter your enemy, to drive him before you, to see his cities reduced to ashes, to see those who love him shrouded in tears” (StackExchange). Such a quote suggests a man who not only lived a violent life, but also enjoyed it, and feeds into a popular view of him as a bloodthirsty, murdering raider who waged war on Europe and Asia a thousand years ago leaving cities in flames and nothing but destruction in his wake. Despite all his flaws, Genghis Khan is arguably one of the greatest men to ever live, accomplishing things that lesser men can only dream of. History has chosen to skip over his other accomplishments, focusing only on the violence. While it is true that Genghis
In 1162, Genghis Khan was born as Temujin in central Mongolia to a mother and father who were minor Mongol nobles. At the age of nine, his father was murdered and Temujin was expelled from his tribe along with his mother and siblings. None in his tribe wished to continue supporting his mother and siblings after the death of his father and they were left to die on the Mongolian steppes. He was able to survive and build alliances with powerful men that would aid him in future conquests. Around 1180, he began attracting a group of men loyal to him that would form the foundations of his army. He continued to strengthen his army and by 1204, he had defeated and united all of the Mongol tribes opposing him. In 1206, a Mongol assembly ratified him as their leader where he was given the title of Genghis Khan meaning “Oceanic Ruler” or “Fierce Ruler” (Rossabi). His campaigns led to the Mongols controlling the largest empire to ever exist, “spanning the entire Asian continent from the Pacific Ocean to modern-day Hungary in Europe” (Carboni). The fact that a boy who was left to die on the Mongolian steppes with his family not only managed to survive but flourish and essentially conquer the world is
For example, the 2009 movie Mongol focuses only on Genghis Khan’s early life and his conquests on the battlefield. It completely disregards his administrative policies and the ways he was able to positively impact the cultures around him. In the fictional short story Bad Enough With Genghis Khan by Sarah Layden, her passing description of Genghis Khan was, “Fur robes, right? Horseback, yeah? Mongol face, and brandishing a roast turkey leg? He'd have flecks of charred flesh between his teeth.” She then mentions Genghis Khan as someone whose, “interests include uniting many tribes and killing forty million people, give or take.” With such shallow descriptions, it is no wonder most people see Genghis Khan only as a violent savage. Another example of Genghis Khan being negatively portrayed in popular culture is the bestselling novel Lords of the Bow by Conn Iggulden. In these historical fiction novels, Iggulden has Genghis saying, “What is the purpose of life if not to conquer? To steal women and land? I would rather be here and see this than live out my life in peace.” If a casual observer were to read this quote, the only impression they would have of Genghis Khan is one of a man who is concerned only with fighting and fornicating. Historical studies provide irrefutable evidence that