Genghis Khan Dbq

When we hear the name “Genghis Khan”, we tend to think of a merciless, brutal barbarian who raped and pillaged his way across Asia and Europe in the 12th and 13th centuries. We wouldn’t be entirely wrong to think of him that way, but there’s a softer, more diplomatic side to him that is often forgotten. Above all, Genghis Khan was a fair and honorable ruler. From his rise, to the height of his power, he stayed true to his own belief system and never allowed it to be compromised. He was relentless in battle, but he also brought unity and order to his country. He vastly improved the lives of Mongolians as well as the lives of those he conquered, followed his code of law to the letter and ensured his soldiers did the same, created the world’s …show more content…
He essentially compiled his government and his empire from scratch. At the height of his power, he controlled an empire that stretched from the Pacific Ocean nearly to the Caspian Sea, or more than one fifth of the earth’s entire surface. Genghis Khan wasn’t necessarily a bad guy, he just loved himself some conquest. Luckily for everyone involved, his conquests often times led to a much improved quality of life for people living in conquered lands.
So how did Genghis Khan become Genghis Khan? It wasn’t an easy journey, from such humble beginnings, to absolute power and influence over an empire so vast, its size wouldn’t be matched for another 7 centuries. Much like his adult life, his adolescence was absolutely wild. Genghis Khan, of course, wasn’t his real name; he was originally called Temujin, meaning …show more content…
His armies killed so many people that he reduced the world’s population by 11%, and he had so many children that there’s a 5% chance that anyone alive today is related to him. He pioneered an international postal system that benefitted all of Asia, and was the closest the middle ages would ever get to a leader who believed in equality. In roughly two decades, he turned a country that wasn’t even really a country into the largest empire of that time period. Although Genghis Khan’s name is one shrouded in controversy, when taking into account everything, good and bad, that he was responsible for, one must conclude that he ruled fairly and honorably. If he hadn’t constructed and operated his empire in the manner he did, it wouldn’t have been a success. Throughout history, countless leaders have risen to power of a large area, but very few were able to hold on to their position, because they lost the favor of the people they represented. Above all, Khan ensured the protection and wellbeing of all people under his rule, and it was because of this that he was able to accomplish such unbelievable tasks. He respected his people, and they respected him. A leader without the support of his people is no leader, and no one understood that better than Genghis