Genghis Khan Quotes

The warrior who united the Mongol tribes and created an empire that was the largest the world has known, has long fought against history experts.

Though he failed/broke into the Great Wall of China, took/taken (prisoners) by force Peking, destroyed Afghanistan, Persia and Russia, and between 1237 and 1242 (suddenly entered a place in an unwanted way) Europe itself, little is left in the way of modern records.

History is this way likely to insult or (think of something as perfect in your mind), depending upon the history expert. He is a monster, given to grave cruelties, or he is "one of the greatest leaders in the history of the world."

The above quote is from the author of this book and his partialities are seen/obvious. Genghis Khan (a romanization the author prefers over the more intelligent Ghinggis Khaan) was the ideal general whose genius lay in his ability to organize. At the same time, we are told, he never saw himself as

the head of a people: he was the head of the Mongol (rich and powerful group of people) which he had united.

He had a strong effect upon the Mongol peoples who had lived in great confusion. And, as Leo de Hartog tells us, "the greatness which they reached under his leadership gave the Mongols a certain pride." He united "a brilliant gift for organization" with "an amazing understanding of human character."

All of which may very well be true, but there is still the monster to be accounted for. There exists an eye-witness account of the fall of Peking (a Persian representative told the Persian history expert Juzjani what he saw) that is filled with monster-like detail. The (tackling/firing) of the place lasted more than a month and was on a huge scale. The representative saw bones of people who had been killed piled in great heaps. Near one of the city gates were piled the remains of, it is said, 60,000 girls who had threw/thrown themselves from the walls to avoid falling prey to the Mongols.

Also, it was standard Mongol practice to force prisoners to fight in the front ranks against their own loyal friends.

If they refused, cruel mass executions followed. These cannon-food prisoners sent, higher-ranking takes (prisoners) by force could be eliminated. Thanks to their rank, however, no royal blood was to be spilled. The unfortunates were strangled by bow strings or choked/(cut off the air) under piles of carpets. When the Russian princes of stole (and left behind almost nothing) Kiev were taken, they were put under a floor of loose planks upon on which the Mongols then, with singing and dancing, celebrated their victory.

Genghis Khan, whom Muslim writers later always called/labeled as "the evil," was, says/argues de Hartog, no monster -- only a man of his times. Towns could be destroyed and the residents murdered because "the Mongols had no idea of the social function of a town. All they innocently knew "was to steal (and leave behind almost nothing)/stolen things and destroy it and killing of many people its

residents."

Genghis Khan was only a child of his time in history and his country. His terrible things "must be viewed in the big picture of the times and the winning (or most common) social conditions." True, during the Mongol victorious capture/romantic relationship unthinkable numbers of people died and destruction was huge, but this as only "the result of the extent of Genghis Khan's (series of actions to reach goals)." A helpful resulting of his terrible methods was that people were too frightened to rebel. This way the Khan designed and made a great time in history of "peace," a kind of Pax Mongolica.

Political genius and/or disease/punishment of the earth, Genghis Khan was thrown by his horse and in 1227 expired at the age of 66. His sons continued the family tradition in some ways. The son installed in his place commanded that 40 beautiful women be chosen from the most respected families. These, dressed in great robes covered with jewels, were sacrificed on the grave of the world powerful ruler "to wait for his soul in the existence after death."

The children of the Khan went on to threaten (with harm) Europe and actually got as far as Germany. In 1242 they reached Neustadt, south of Vienna. What this huge army would have further destroyed is not known because, though the sons were as cruel as their father, they were not as talented. There was _arguing_], and the Mongol Empire, the Khan's great (action of accomplishing or completing something challenging), slowly crumbled into the seething, broken-up condition from which it had come.

There had been a great victorious capture/romantic relationship but, as our history expert notes, much damage had been done. Even (in an unusually emotional phrase from this usually limited/held down history expert) "the heart had been torn out of the old Russia." Anyway, there is much to like and respect.

This de Hartog does at length, searching out all sources (the (list of books and articles used for something) is huge) and telling his story with a fair and unprejudiced even (emotionally cool and not friendly) intent that allows to the Khan and his times to -- as best they are able -- speak for themselves.