Life Of Genghis Kahn Essay, Research Paper
Genghis Kahn’s destructive path was unique and has yet to be surpassed by any other
single person. Genghis Kahn was a famous Mongolian ruler that lived from 1162-1227. He
conquered many civilizations and witnessed many killings. His empire was one of the most
advanced military empires in the world. They used advanced military tactics and an
extremely structured government, prooving to be very effective in their plans to conquer a
large part of the world.
Genghis Khan was originally born as Temujin in 1167. Genghis Khan was born on
the Gobi, in a yurt, or felt tent, on a bank of the Onon River in northern Mongolia. His father,
Yesukai, was the chief of several desert tribes and had just slain a foe named Temujin. In
triumph Yesukai named his newborn son Temujin.
Yesukai died when Temujin was about 13 years old. The boy succeeded him, but the
fierce, restless nomads would not obey so young a chieftain. The chief of another tribe
proclaimed himself leader of the Mongols and captured Temujin. Guards forced Temujin
into a kang, a wooden yoke that shackled his shoulders and wrists. In the dark he slowly
twisted himself to reach above a guard and smashed the kang down on his head. Then
Temujin raced to the river and escaped by hiding in water up to his chin.
He showed early promise as a leader and a fighter. When Genghis Khan was little, his
chieftain father poisoned. With no leader left, the tribe abandoned Genghis and his mother.
They were left alone for many years to care for themselves. Throughout these years, his
family met many hardships such as shortage of food and shortage of money. Though unable
to read, Genghis was a very wise man. His mother told him at a very early age the
importance of trust and independence. “Remember, you have no companions but your
shadow” This quote was to mean to Genghis, don’t put to much trust in anyone, trust no one
but yourself and if you must go your own way then do so.
Temujin’s bold courage and resourcefulness began to win followers. When he reached
manhood, he conquered the Tatars and added them to his tribes. In 1203 he defeated the
Keraits. Seizing their cities of mud and stone, he made Karakorum his capital.
By 1206, an assembly of Mongolian chieftains proclaimed him Genghis Khan. It
means “greatest of rulers, emperor of all men,” or invincible prince. This was a bold move
for the assembly. They obviously saw some leadership qualities in Genghis that others didn’t.
Genghis Khan was proclaimed the ruler of Mongolia. Genghis was a very respected leader.
Like other leaders he knew what his people wanted. They want everything that is good and
nothing that is bad. Genghis knew he could not promise this so instead he pledged to share
both the sweet and the bitter of life. Genghis did not want to end up being poisoned like his
father so instead he made alliances, and attacked anyone who posed a serious threat. Through
this method of leadership, Genghis’s army grew to the point where they were unbeatable.
Genghis contributed alot of items to the chinese and even western civilizations.
Perhaps his greatest contribution was a code of laws that he declared. Since Genghis couldn+t
read or write, these law were documented by one of his followers. His laws were carried on
by people though the many generations to the point of still being in use today. Either as a
modification of Genghis+s laws or as Genghis had declared them. Genghis Khan promoted
the growth of trade between China and Europe. This allowed him to gain essential supplies
such as food, weapons and other essential survival materials. Genghis also invented a system
similar to the pony express. It was a system in which the horse and rider could silently
communicate, a system that is still in use today. Perhaps the greatest gift ever given by
Genghis Khan was the gift of language. Genghis was the first ruler to develop a Mongolian
language. Genghis Khan was also a military and strategic genius. He structured his army in a
unique and interesting fashion. He integrated soldiers from different tribes into one powerful
fighting force. This was a brilliant idea. Not only could he have diversity and people who
specialize in certain aspects of warfare, but it also inspired loyalty to the mongolian army as
a whole rather than to a specific group of people. Genghis used harsh training and strict
discipline to create a superior fighting force, he also insured that everyone of his soldiers was
well equipped and could easily adopted new warfare tactics. His soldiers were always
learning. Whether it be a new tactic Genghis had invented or a new weapon He decided the
army would use, his soldiers were constantly learning. Genghis inspired loyalty by a unique
way of promotion. Genghis felt that the best way to gain a loyal following was to promote
people on the basis of achievement and not within the family. This did not only inspire a
great deal of loyalty but it also made his army better and actually raised the morale of his
soldiers. Every soldier gave their life to Genghis and one hundred percent of their effort
because no one knew who would be the next Genghis would promote.
Finally, once Genghis’s army was trained and ready for battle, Genghis felt it was
time to flex the muscles of the Mongolian empire. Genghis took on the great task of
conquering all of china and uniting it under a single ruler. Genghis began his assault on
China by attacking a northwest kingdom called Xi Xia. He defeated Xi Xia with little effort
and then in 1215 he moved northeast, attacking and conquering Bejing, the capital city of the
Jin empire. In 1218, for reasons unknown, he decided to cease his assault on China and
sweep into central Asia. He crushed the kingdom of Krorezm which was located in what is
now present-day Uzebekistan and Turkmenistan. In 1220, he destroyed the cities of Bukhara
and Samarkand, which are located in present-day Uzebekistan and Neyshabar in modern
Iran. By 1223, Genghis Khan and his troops had conquered the Kipchaks, and they had
defeated the Russians at the Kalka River. It had taken Genghis Khan 17 years to create an
empire superior in strength and achievement to Alexander the great, Julius Caesar and even
Hannibal. From 1225 until Genghis+s death in 1227, His army was at war with Yi Yia
kingdom.
Genghis Khan died on August 18, 1227, and was buried in a secret location in
Mongolia. By rewarding skill and allegiance, and punishing those who opposed him, Genghis
Khan established a vast empire and the most powerful empire to ever exist. Upon his death,
Genghis’s son Kublai Khan took over the empire, founding the chinese-style Yuan dynasty.
Mongol rule brought relative peace to Asia. Genghis Khan’s methods of mayhem helped
extremely for Mongol rule, because Mongol rule brought relative peace to Asia.