I picked up this little ditty at the airport and finished it in four days - it was that good.
Previously known only as a bloodthirsty and exceptionally cruel (and he was) 'barbarian', this book written by a group of professors hailing from Mongolia, Russia, India and America (the primary author) dumps that crap on history's ear. They deciphered a text known as 'the secret History of the Mongols' written by one of Genghis' court, and used that perspective on the empire to help get this book completed.
Turns out, while he was killing citizens by the millions...he invented free trade, promoted religious tolerance, and the division of church and state...oh, and he abolished the use of torture in a time when the Europeans were doing none of the above...just burning Jews, torturing heretics, and operating with the feudal/slave system. Genghis actually left Europe alone because it was too poor and backwards....
Stalin was using his tactics in WWII against the Germans, and Ol' Bushie could use a few of his policies (rather than following the ol' join us or die approach)...several contributors actally risked their lives (and lost family members) by studying this guy when the Communists were in power. That's how scared the Russians were of his legacy. Read it if you see it!
2 comments:
So would you say, after reading it, that he was a jerk?
After reading it, I'll say he was THE jerk in history.
Killed millions, and then loved by them later. Envied and feared by others with similar World-Jerk aspirations.
Wotta guy!
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