Genghis Khan (1162 – August 1227), born Temujin, was the founder and Great Khan (emperor) of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his demise.
He came to power by uniting many of the nomadic tribes of northeast Asia. After founding the Mongol Empire and being proclaimed “Genghis Khan,” he started the Mongol invasions that resulted in the conquest of most of Eurasia. These included raids or invasions of the Kara-Khitan Khanate, Caucasus, Khwarezmid Empire, Western Xia and Jin dynasties.
These campaigns were often accompanied by wholesale massacres of the civilian populations – especially in the Khwarezmian controlled lands. By the end of his life, the Mongol Empire occupied a substantial portion of Central Asia and China.
Beyond his military accomplishments, Genghis Khan also advanced the Mongol Empire in other ways. He decreed the adoption of the Uyghur script as the Mongol Empire’s writing system. He also promoted religious tolerance in the Mongol Empire, and created a unified empire from the nomadic tribes of northeast Asia. Present-day Mongolians regard him as the founding father of Mongolia.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genghis_Khan)
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Khan and his army wiped out 11% of the world’s population – 40 million people. This meant large areas of cultivated land grew trees removing 700 million tones of carbon from the environment.
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To keep order within the Empire Khan created a legal code known as “yassa”. Prohibiting things such as adultery, theft, and lying it also promoted religious tolerance.
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After his father’s death Khan and his family were forced to hunt and forage for food. Aged 10, he killed his older half-brother for not sharing food he had gathered.
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A brilliant military tactic Khan used the fake retreat to draw out his enemies. Mongols could maneuver their hands free to fire arrows.
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For killing a Mongol diplomat Khan went on to wipe out the Knawarizm Empire. No living thing was spared, not even animals. Skulls of the dead were piled in large pyramidal mounds.
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Genghis Khan never allowed his likeness to be portrayed. The first image of him appeared after he died.
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Mongol victory feasts would see captive girls paraded before them. Rating the women, Khan would take the highest ranked leaving the rest for his officers.
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Khan’s Empire would go on to cover 12 million square miles. 0.5% today’s male population are his direct descendants – roughly 16 million men.
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Khan defeated a Russian army 4 times the size of his with the surviving leaders surrendering. They were executed by being laid under a wooden platform which the Mongols danced and feasted upon.
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The cause of Khan’s death is unknown. Legend has it that at his funeral 40 virgins and horses were sacrificed and 2000 guests were killed in order to keep the burial a secret.
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