jjares reviewed The Mongol Invasions: A Captivating Guide to the Mongol Invasions and Conquests along with the Life of Genghis Khan on + 3294 more book reviews
Life was very hard on the Steppes, much of the land is in permafrost. Until the horse was domesticated, there must have been few hardy souls to live in the area because the land wasn't tillable. The dominant way of life was pastoral nomadism -- nomadic people depended on domesticated livestock and migrated to find pasturage for their animals. That turned grasslands into an economic advantage for the nomadic tribes.
It is hard to fathom that Genghis Khan created a Eurasian empire from Hungary to Korea. It was easier to see the Mongol's spread because of the maps included. The art and drawings added flavor to the reading about the Mongol tribes.
Genghis Khan was a gifted leader. He seemed to understand that assimilating conquered tribes into his own would cut down on revolts as time passed. He also altered the inherent nepotism (of the time) and made rising in the ranks of power based on merit, not family affiliations. He also understood that the rules that worked for nomadic peoples would not work as well with sedentary folks. So he was flexible as he acquired more lands and peoples. Another strength Khan exhibited was his willingness to learn from his enemies. He learned their tactics and about their weapons, so he became a more powerful fighting force.
As is so often the case with charismatic leaders, the ones who follow that chief usually don't have the gifts that allowed the previous commander to rule so well. This book shows Genghis's meteoric rise and the gradual dissolution of Khan's power in Eurasia. It is well worth reading.
It is hard to fathom that Genghis Khan created a Eurasian empire from Hungary to Korea. It was easier to see the Mongol's spread because of the maps included. The art and drawings added flavor to the reading about the Mongol tribes.
Genghis Khan was a gifted leader. He seemed to understand that assimilating conquered tribes into his own would cut down on revolts as time passed. He also altered the inherent nepotism (of the time) and made rising in the ranks of power based on merit, not family affiliations. He also understood that the rules that worked for nomadic peoples would not work as well with sedentary folks. So he was flexible as he acquired more lands and peoples. Another strength Khan exhibited was his willingness to learn from his enemies. He learned their tactics and about their weapons, so he became a more powerful fighting force.
As is so often the case with charismatic leaders, the ones who follow that chief usually don't have the gifts that allowed the previous commander to rule so well. This book shows Genghis's meteoric rise and the gradual dissolution of Khan's power in Eurasia. It is well worth reading.
