Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World - Jack Weatherford

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World

By Jack Weatherford

  • Release Date: 2004-03-16
  • Genre: Asian History
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 273 Ratings

Description

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The startling true history of how one extraordinary man from a remote corner of the world created an empire that led the world into the modern age—by the author featured in Echoes of the Empire: Beyond Genghis Khan.

The Mongol army led by Genghis Khan subjugated more lands and people in twenty-five years than the Romans did in four hundred. In nearly every country the Mongols conquered, they brought an unprecedented rise in cultural communication, expanded trade, and a blossoming of civilization. Vastly more progressive than his European or Asian counterparts, Genghis Khan abolished torture, granted universal religious freedom, and smashed feudal systems of aristocratic privilege.

From the story of his rise through the tribal culture to the explosion of civilization that the Mongol Empire unleashed, this brilliant work of revisionist history is nothing less than the epic story of how the modern world was made.

Reviews

  • Concise but thorough and very interesting

    5
    By wer749
    Articulate with keen observations littered throughout - very accessible and not academic and made to be both educational and entertaining - not in the least bit dry. Truly is comprehensive in its scope and evaluations on both historic and modern society and what we have to thank the mongols for - I strongly encourage you to read this book
  • A new look at an old story

    5
    By rokinrev
    “Fate did not hand Chinnguis Khan [aka Gengis Khan]his destiny. He made it himself. It seemed highly unlikely that he would have ever had enough horses to create a Spirit Banner, much less that he would follow it all over the world.” This fascinating overview of the life and times of Gengis Khan is well worth the time to track down and read. Jack Weatherford has presented Khan as a unifier of the scattered Mongols as well as a shaper of his own future. Based upon the divergence of friendship and enmity, Khan developed what we now see as modern warfare techniques and the skelton of a government not see previously . Weatherford contends Gengis Khan May have changed the world, but did not let the world change him, returning to his roots for rest, reflection and recharging. With each chapter, the author brings us deeper into the life of a man who changed the world to save others from being abused as he was. In this way, he helped to change the aspects and safety of his people far beyond his lifetime. This is a book to read and return to. Highly recommended 5/5 [disclaimer: I read this library ebook after hearing an author I follow talk about it. I have chosen to read and review it, and I hope someday to own a copy]
  • Names Mispronounced In Audio Version

    2
    By Lowereastphoto
    I agree it’s a well written book and well researched. Unfortunately, after speaking to a native Mongolian, I learned the company that created the audio version mispronounce most, if not all, of the names. I would have been easy to find a Mongolian to coach the narrator on the proper pronuciations of the people and places so that the wrong sound is not etched into the listener's memory.
  • Ghenghis Khan

    5
    By Jimbo646464
    Outstanding piece of work. Thank you!
  • Amazing

    5
    By BrockCo
    This is the real story about one of the most influential human beings to ever walk the Earth. If you take Gengis Khan out of history, you have a drastically different world today.
  • Wow

    5
    By rocker55555
    A well-written book about a very influential man who changed the face of civilization.