Date sent:         Fri, 24 May 1996 17:30:35 +0000 

 GENGHIS KHAN

 The old world had many great leaders. Alexander the Great, Hannibal and even 
Julius Caesar met with struggle on their rise to power. Perhaps Genghis Khan 
was the most significant of all these rulers. To prove that Genghis Khan was 
the greatest ruler, we must go back to the very beginning of his existence. We 
must examine such issues as; Genghisıs struggle for power/how his life as a 
child would affect his rule, his personal and military achievements and his 
conquests.

 Genghis Khan was originally born as Temujin in 1167. He showed early promise 
as a leader and a fighter. By 1206, an assembly of Mongolian chieftains 
proclaimed him Genghis Khan. Which meant Universal or invincible prince. This 
was a bold move for the assembly. They obviously saw some leadership qualities 
in Genghis that others didnıt. When Genghis Khan was little, his chieftain 
father poisoned. With no leader left, the tribe abandoned Genghis and his 
mother. They were left alone for many years to care for themselves. Throughout 
these years, his family met many hardships such as shortage of food and 
shortage of money. Though unable to read, Genghis was a very wise man. His 
mother told him at a very early age the importance of trust and independence.

³Remember, you have no companions but your shadow² Grolier Encyclopedia. 
(1995) CD ROM

This quote was to mean to Genghis, donıt put to much trust in anyone, trust no 
one but yourself and if you must go your own way then do so. In 1206, Genghis 
Khan proclaimed the ruler of Mongolia. Genghis was a very respected leader. 
Like other leaders he knew what his people wanted. They want everything that 
is good and nothing that is bad. Genghis knew he could not promise this so 
instead he pledged to share both the sweet and the bitter of life. Genghis did 
not want to end up being poisoned like his father so instead he made 
alliances, and attacked anyone who posed a serious threat. Through this method 
of leadership, Genghisıs army grew to the point where they were unbeatable.

 Genghis contributed alot of items to the chinese and even western 
civilizations. Perhaps his greatest contribution was a code of laws that he 
declared. Since Genghis couldnıt read or write, these law were documented by 
one of his followers.  His laws were carried on by people though the many 
generations to the point of still being in use today. Either as a modification 
of Genghisıs laws or as Genghis had declared them. Genghis Khan promoted the 
growth of trade between China and Europe. This allowed him to gain essential 
supplies such as food, weapons and other essential survival materials. Genghis 
also invented a system similar to the pony express. It was a system in which 
the horse and rider could silently communicate, a system that is still in use 
today. Perhaps the greatest gift ever given by Genghis Khan was the gift of 
language. Genghis was the first ruler to develop a Mongolian language. Genghis 
Khan was also a military and strategic genius. He structured his army in a 
unique and interesting fashion. He integrated soldiers from different tribes 
into one powerful fighting force. This was a brilliant idea. Not only could he 
have diversity and people who specialize in certain aspects of warfare, but it 
also inspired loyalty to the mongolian army as a whole rather than to a 
specific group of people. Genghis used harsh training and strict discipline to 
create a superior fighting force, he also insured that everyone of his 
soldiers was well equipped and could easily adopted new warfare tactics. His 
soldiers were always learning. Whether it be a new tactic Genghis had invented 
or a new weapon He decided the army would use, his soldiers were constantly 
learning. Genghis inspired loyalty by a unique way of promotion. Genghis felt 
that the best way to gain a loyal following was to promote people on the basis 
of achievement and not within the family. This did not only inspire a great 
deal of loyalty but it also made his army better and actually raised the 
morale of his soldiers. Every soldier gave their life to Genghis and one 
hundred percent of their effort because no one knew who would be the next 
Genghis would promote.

 Finally, once Genghisıs army was trained and ready for battle, Genghis felt 
it was time to flex the muscles of the Mongolian empire. Genghis took on the 
great task of conquering all of china and uniting it under a single ruler. 
Genghis began his assault on China by attacking a northwest kingdom called Xi 
Xia. He defeated Xi Xia with little effort and then in 1215 he moved 
northeast, attacking and conquering  Bejing, the capital city of the Jin 
empire. In 1218, for reasons unknown, he decided to cease his assault on China 
and sweep into central Asia. He crushed the kingdom of Krorezm which was 
located in what is now present-day Uzebekistan and Turkmenistan. In 1220, he 
destroyed the cities of Bukhara and Samarkand, which are located in 
present-day Uzebekistan and Neyshabar in modern Iran. By 1223, Genghis Khan 
and his troops had conquered the Kipchaks, and they had defeated the Russians 
at the Kalka River. It had taken Genghis Khan 17 years to create an empire 
superior in strength and achievement to Alexander the great, Julius Caesar and 
even Hannibal. From 1225 until Genghisıs death in 1227, His army was at war 
with Yi Yia kingdom.

Genghis Khan died on August 18, 1227, and was buried in a secret location in 
Mongolia. By rewarding skill and allegiance, and punishing those who opposed 
him, Genghis Khan established a vast empire and the most powerful empire to 
ever exist. Upon his death, Genghisıs son Kublai Khan took over the empire, 
founding the chinese-style Yuan dynasty. Mongol rule brought relative peace to 
Asia, leaving China accessible to foreign visitors, such as Marco Polo.

REFERENCES

Grolier Encyclopedia. (1995). CD ROM

The New World Book. (1995). CD ROM

Empires Beyond the Great Wall: The Heritage of Genghis Khan. 
www.pinc.com/khan/empires.html
 Online. Internet. 1 May 1996

Heroes (Genghis Khan 1167-1227). 
http://spruce.evansville.edu/~al22/genghis.html
 Online. Internet. 2 May 1996