Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World

My eyes misted over often with pride or empathy or frustration. The lies my schooling history told me, the perversions of organized religion, the glories and ignorant treacheries . The hope of a fair world for all to live in. I really enjoyed this very well written book. It was well worth the money.

This was a very interesting and well written history. It went far beyond the superficial knowledge I had of this remarkable leader. The history of the competition among his grandsons and later generations and the gradual decline of his empire was something I had known almost nothing about I recommend this book highly to anyone who wants an in depth study of this fascinating page in history.

I enjoy reading history and this book contained a lot of interesting information I had never read before about a man who is practically a household name. Also a good lesson on how great empires fall apart in succeeding generations through greed and lack of unity.

Amazing book. Made me travel in time and space as the history of the Mongol Empire unravels. I recommend this book to anyone that is curious about history and about how our world came to be as it is now.

Interesting the influence that Ghenghis Khan had upon the world, and his forward-thinking ideas upon society. Most interesting, is that in the West, we never heard of the size of his empire or his ideas.

An incredible number of facts that reorganize your worldview. The number of innovations and their creation centuries before other cultures astounded me. I think I will view so many cultures and their claimed achievements differently.

I cannot rate the content, as this was purchased for my son in association to a school assignment. The product was shipped promptly, received in good condition, and I understand that it is a classic quite often assigned in high school and/or college (similar in recommendation to The Art of War).

the first half of the book is fascinating. it filled a glaring hole in my knowledge about this period in history. if the book had ended after the genghis period plus his sons and grandsons it would have been a better book. my interest and enthusiasm being to fade after kubalai. weatherford's impressive effort is extremely informative but it would have benefitted from tighter editing ... some points are repeated more than they need to be.

A thrilling and informative portrayal of one of the greatest political and military geniuses. It covers his life and the event that formed him as an effective leader as well as the effects of his conquests and rule, upon his conquered territories and the rest of the "known world".

I never knew that the Mongols were so liberal. History and the movies have portrayed them as savages. They were more religiously tolerant then Christians and Muslims. And the real shocker, was that they were not as cruel to defeated people as their counterparts. Go figure.

I have to give Weatherford credit for reviving the reputation of the much maligned Mongols. His account was a great fast-paced, exciting read. I especially liked the last two chapters which covered the global awakening that the Mongols ushered in (basically linking Eurasia through trade routes and anticipating Europe's Renaissance) and the bubonic plague (which basically undid the work of the prior chapter).

My one complaint is that Weatherford is a bit too obviously biased against Christianity, and will often make non-sequitor asides about how the medieval church in Europe was intolerant, etc, etc. (Of course, we all have our biases, but Weatherford is a bit too obviously in the secularist camp.)

Explains the formative nature of the Mongol Empire in providing the security for traders who moved ideas across Eurasia to create the Renaissance. The book ameliorates the bad press Mongols usually get through the eyes of Western historians.

I cannot rate the content, as this was purchased for my son in association to a school assignment. The product was shipped promptly, received in good condition, and I understand that it is a classic quite often assigned in high school and/or college (similar in recommendation to The Art of War).

the first half of the book is fascinating. it filled a glaring hole in my knowledge about this period in history. if the book had ended after the genghis period plus his sons and grandsons it would have been a better book. my interest and enthusiasm being to fade after kubalai. weatherford's impressive effort is extremely informative but it would have benefitted from tighter editing ... some points are repeated more than they need to be.

A thrilling and informative portrayal of one of the greatest political and military geniuses. It covers his life and the event that formed him as an effective leader as well as the effects of his conquests and rule, upon his conquered territories and the rest of the "known world".

I never knew that the Mongols were so liberal. History and the movies have portrayed them as savages. They were more religiously tolerant then Christians and Muslims. And the real shocker, was that they were not as cruel to defeated people as their counterparts. Go figure.

I have to give Weatherford credit for reviving the reputation of the much maligned Mongols. His account was a great fast-paced, exciting read. I especially liked the last two chapters which covered the global awakening that the Mongols ushered in (basically linking Eurasia through trade routes and anticipating Europe's Renaissance) and the bubonic plague (which basically undid the work of the prior chapter).

My one complaint is that Weatherford is a bit too obviously biased against Christianity, and will often make non-sequitor asides about how the medieval church in Europe was intolerant, etc, etc. (Of course, we all have our biases, but Weatherford is a bit too obviously in the secularist camp.)

Explains the formative nature of the Mongol Empire in providing the security for traders who moved ideas across Eurasia to create the Renaissance. The book ameliorates the bad press Mongols usually get through the eyes of Western historians.

This was a really great read. Reminiscent of Hero, a 2002 wuxia film directed by Zhang Yimou, it looks at the back story of a conqueror who's conquest didn't subjugate an entire continent but instead brought them together and in the process, ended many years of war and isolation.

If you have wondered where social concepts first arose, or puzzled over the odd apparent connections between place names, or questioned the similarities between disparate cultures....read this.
A beautifully researched and written story of the relationship between East and West and how they were joined by The Great Khan.

An incredible history of this fascinating empire. I read this book shortly before going to Mongolia on business for a few weeks and was thrilled to have know more about the country. Arriving to Ulaanbaatar in the middle of winter you quickly come to realize that the Mongols lived in very extreme conditions and that this alone would create a different type of person.

The book is written in a captivating manner and gives the reader the information that he wants whether he knows that he wants it or not. This is also not a biography of Genghis Khan (although it does contain this in part), rather a biography of the expansion of the Mongolian Empire.

Extremely interesting read. Recommended.

Written primarily as a hagiographic account of Genghis. The millions that the mongols slaughtered wouldn't be too thrilled with this account. The author could be more clinical and objective in his analysis.

This book exceeded my expectations. It is very well written and fun to read. I learned a lot and frequently found myself looking at other references to read more about interesting topics raised in the book.

Well-researched and well-written, this book has enlightened me about the history of the Mongols that has heretofore been anything but factual. The archeological, cultural and written records are sparse and widespread but the author has been thorough and diligent in his efforts to reconstruct a history that is fascinating, believable and awesome.

As with any interesting subject, I would like to read more to provide better focus and understanding. However, the bibliography is so extensive I don't know where to begin. I wish there had been a recommended list of 10 to 20 articles or books to further one's knowledge of the subject.

I will start somewhere and hope that I don't become hopelessly lost or confused. This book raises many questions and demands that the reader pursue his own research. I look forward to the journey.

A must read both for understanding this often misunderstood Asian leader and his impact on the spread of technology (between China and the Middle East) and liberal thinking (freedom of religion, value of education, introduction of a postal system, etc.) that stimulated the Renaissance.

Weatherford has done what many thought impossible- a thoughtful, innovative work that combines a personality (Genghis Khan)-driven narrative with a careful analysis of the bigger picture. Weatherford's intimate knowledge of Mongol culture and customs helps illustrate some of the more bizarre accounts of Westerners unfamiliar with such details.

There are some innaccuracies. Weatherford maintains that before the Mongols there was no contact between Europe and China. He ignores the experiences of the Radhanites, Dark-Age Jewish merchants who travelled to the Far East and founded Jewish colonies in T'ang-dynasty China. Nonetheless this is as flawless an account of the rise and fall of the Pax Mongolica as I have ever seen.

Surprising information contrary to all we have previously known about this ancient historical figure. A much maligned person who may have had much more positive effects than the brutality portrayed in our history books.

It is a wonderful book. Gives deep insights on historical developmens through the ages as various societies evolved, governance styles and human civilisation as it deven oped though various phases. This also proadies valuable gup dance to understand science of wa fares aND how to subdue adversaries.

a fascinating look at Genghis Khan, his upbringing, battle tactics and beliefs. Unlike the general impression, he was a remarkable man who, once an area was conquered brought tolerance, education and prosperity to the lands he ruled.

The western world really doesn't know the history of Genghis Khan and his dynasty, if this book is really a "truer" version, then we have some learning to do on the subject. I found this quite interesting to listen to and got quite a bit of new information out of it on a long car ride.

Probably the best researched biography of Genghis Kahn, this amazing book brings alive one of the most remarkable epochs of world history. For those of us from the west, it brings new understanding of the debt we owe the Asian nomad turned world leader.

Surprising information contrary to all we have previously known about this ancient historical figure. A much maligned person who may have had much more positive effects than the brutality portrayed in our history books.

It is a wonderful book. Gives deep insights on historical developmens through the ages as various societies evolved, governance styles and human civilisation as it deven oped though various phases. This also proadies valuable gup dance to understand science of wa fares aND how to subdue adversaries.

a fascinating look at Genghis Khan, his upbringing, battle tactics and beliefs. Unlike the general impression, he was a remarkable man who, once an area was conquered brought tolerance, education and prosperity to the lands he ruled.

The western world really doesn't know the history of Genghis Khan and his dynasty, if this book is really a "truer" version, then we have some learning to do on the subject. I found this quite interesting to listen to and got quite a bit of new information out of it on a long car ride.

Probably the best researched biography of Genghis Kahn, this amazing book brings alive one of the most remarkable epochs of world history. For those of us from the west, it brings new understanding of the debt we owe the Asian nomad turned world leader.

A supreme piece of history, excellently researched and presented in great detail. the author's writing style is comforting and never boring.

If you love history and especially the history and effects Mongol rule had on the world this book will not be easily put down.

Highly recommended reading even just for one's general knowledge improvement.

If we learn about Genghis Khan and the Mongols in school at all, it is curiously wrong, pales in comparison to this gripping account which takes us through time and many lands. And suddenly it all makes sense and comes to life. Brilliant book, must-read!