Why I admire Genghis Khan
The Great Khan’s worldwide reputation is based on the achievements he made in the last fifteen years of his life. Temujin became Genghis Khan in his teens and beginning with little or no power, began to consolidate the Mongol tribes under his banner.
He planned everything perfectly, probably seeming (to Chinese eyes) to REDUCE the threat of Mongol raids until, after thirty years, he was finally able to use the army he had developed to push out in all directions to build the biggest empire the world had ever seen.
He has a reputation for ruthlessness, but in fact, in an age when other rulers were claiming suzerainty over men’s souls, Temujin was tolerant of religious difference, including within the Horde, Pagans (such as himself) several varieties of Christian and Buddhist, and any other religions they might choose to adopt.
Ironically, some historians suggest that he particularly disliked Islam, after his disagreements with the Empire of Khwarizm (in modern day Iran). If true this is ironic because his most illustrious “successor” Tamurlaine was himself a Moslem.
