Genghis Khan: barbarian or hero? - Horseback Mongolia
Genghis Khan: barbarian or hero?

Genghis Khan: barbarian or hero?

Jan 05 2016
Often depicted as a barbarian and a bloodthirsty leader, creating an empire accross Eurasian continent and damaging cities on his way, Genghis Khan was it that real barbarian or the leader that united a country and dressed the basis of the modern society as early as the 13th century?  Today historical data can explain what was real and what was not in this matter, so let's start! For a better understanding, let's write the good things about Genghis Khan in green, while the more critical ones (considered as bad) will be in red. So everyone knows Genghis Khan, the great leader of the 13th century that created an empire to the cost of millions of lifes, and left ruins of cities on his way. Maybe, but let's not forget that he was one of the greatest leaders of all time. Born under the name of Temujin, he was an orphan, and left without any ressource, he made his way out to unite the clans of what is now Mongolia, and ultimately to create the biggest empire on earth! Spreading from the Pacific ocean, up to the heart of Europe.
Genghis Khan: barbarian or hero?

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It is said, that because of his invasions, the North of China lost about the 2/3 of its population! It is also known that under the ruling of the Jin dynasty, all the northern tribes were under influence of the Chinese, even been paid to kill each other, and the Jin were actually attacking them at some points. About the population decrease, it can also be explained by a bad management of counting people, and that a great part of the farmers at that moment voluntarily engaged themselves into the army of Genghis Khan, decreasing de-facto the statistics of the population taken into account.

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Armies of Genghis Khan burned down cities, massacred their inhabitants and created chaos on the surroundings. Genghis Khan actually preferred that his enemies surrender and pay a tax to be protected then, and believed into loyalty and diplomatic laws. Those cities which have been destroyed were the results of rebellions against the Khan after having been surrendered to him, or if they killed the Mongolian ambassadors sent to negotiate.
Genghis Khan: barbarian or hero?

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Historical reports stated the Mongolian army of the Khan was far more brutal than expected: some were ripping the children out of their mothers belly, use prisoners as human shields or fill the moats with human prisoners in order to support the weight of the siege weapons into gaining control of the enemy castle. As barbarian as it sounds, it may be true. But is it more terrible that all the inventions and atrocities made during the middle age time? It does not excuse these methods, but tend to depict the Khan as a tactitian of his time. We cannot deny the great changes made for the good of people under his influence : by uniting the tribes, the tradition of kidnapping women has been abolished. Also, mongolian women have been given a more important role in society, creating new rights especially for them, like taking part of important decisions, have the responsability of homes, divorce as an option for married couples... Temujin would remain with his first wife all his life, and raising his illegitimate son as his own.

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His conquests contributed to the loss of 40 millions of people accross Europe, well after his own death. It is about 10% of the world known population at that time! This, is without counting the damages caused by the black plague, introduced by the Golden Horde into Europe, when they laid the siege of Kaffa in 1345. You have to understand also, that those historical documents have been written about 100 years after the actual events, not 100% accurate or to be trusted.  Mongolians, in fact at the siege of Kaffa didn't introduce the great black plague to the city by throwing their dead bodies inside, but by indirectly bringing the disease with them unnoticed, carried by animals such rats. Modern medicine states in fact people who got infected could not infect other people.  Interesting note: from the people who survived the Mongolian attacks were integrated to the new Empire, and many benefited from the change. Mongolian Empire was tolerant with different religious practices, people were treated as equal, and by their work, or enlisted as a soldier of the State, it was possible to get a better position in life.  Some more developed systems appeared with the Mongolian conquests such like the unified postal system, universal justice, and a mix of cultures of the countries.
Genghis Khan: barbarian or hero?

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Bagdad was part of the dark history under the Empire. Cultural capital city at the period, Bagdad has been destroyed by the attacks of Hulagu Khan, as well as great libraries, hospitals and palace burned down... Unlucky Bagdad was, its Caliph actually refused to surrender the city. Hulagu Khan was then punished later for this by Berke Khan. Generally speaking, Mongolian Empire was avoiding those sorts of practice, saving doctors, literate people, and craftsmen in every surrendered locations. They would be used then for the Empire, and spreading new knowledge as a result.

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What to say about the complete destruction of the Kievan Rus', when the Mongolian invasion raced towards Ukraine in 1240? This action took place at the golden age of the Kevian State, and thus pushing it backwards into the middle age time while the rest of Europe was flourishing into the Renaissance. You have to know that West Europe was not any better, nor a quiet and peaceful place to be. Mongolian invasions allowed prosperity on new roads, like the famous Silk road towards West, allowing commercial routes and exchange of culture. Russia and China unified as states as we know them now, benefited actually from the Empire of the Mongols. Genghis Khan left his inheritors be part of the noble casts that were the decision maker well after his death, creating both stability and flourishing periods for the conquered lands.

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And you, reader of this article, might even be related somehow to the great Khan himself! A study revealed that around 16 million men are sharing the same genes of Genghis Khan today, that is to say, about 1 men out of 200 ! Does the historical accomplishments of a leader can overpower the losses caused by such a rise? So let us know what you think about this article, all comments are most welcomed!  
Daniel
09 March 2022
Ghengis was a bad person, but an efficient leader, what he did is not excused by the actions of others, we can learn history without weird bias. He raped countless women, that’s why 1 in 200 men.
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paxton
26 January 2022
Genghis khan vs Alexander the great
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tis i
04 January 2022
super helpful for school, thanks a bunch!!
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21 December 2021
The article is very interesting! and I do not think that khan is a bad person!
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Jisoo
23 February 2021
This was very useful for my school work👍🏻
chikmen
01 March 2021
same
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Just a dude
03 February 2021
Europians(i'm also a europian) always say Alexander is Great but Ghenghis khan is bad. And nomads say Alexander and Ghenghis khan are both great. As you can see here we europians are always act like we are top of humanity we are superior ... but this is wrong.... Many europian kings and governments made same if not worse as ghenghis khan. He is not an angel nor a god he is just a king/human he made a good things and bad things.... in my opinion he is good emperor to his people(not only mongols everyone in mongol empire) but he is a devil against the someone who killed/did bad things to his people.
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dreamersan
11 December 2020
I don't understand why hilter is vilified and genghis khan is praised. infact he is even worst since he raped countless women and always in public as a lesson. he decendants thought that was virtue and did even worse.
Owl
30 November 2021
Everyone likes to point out the bad stuff since its simpler, but never forget that Its not one side or the other, hes good or bad depending on who you are, and he can even be both
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Bethan
05 December 2020
This was very helpful for my school work thank u
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Big Chungus
25 November 2020
This is very helpful thank u
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Raza
12 November 2020
There is no doubt the Mongols were barbarians and brutal than others during their time. Most people feared the brutality of the Mongols.
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DJ Khald
07 October 2020
It was very helpful for school, thank you
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Mylee
05 May 2020
was Gebghis Khan a vicious barbarian or a unifier?
Owl
30 November 2021
both
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Daniel From Horseback Mongolia
13 March 2020
Thank you so much I hope too see you in Mongolia soon
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Bryan Knight
31 May 2019
I have just finished reading Jack Weatherford’s book on Genghis Khan. Amazingly I have also just attended Book of Mormon where “hell” is frequented by Hitler. Genghis Khan and other “evil” entities. The man deserves better. History now knows the truth and his place in history needs to be established correctly. I recently did a min poll, asking friends and relatives to name the three most evil people in history. Hitler got a jersey in 12 of the 15 people. GK received 10 votes. When I rattled off some facts gleaned from the book. 7 were surprised and changed their mind. Why is his life not a movie based on fact?? He should be listed alongside Pasteur, Mandela, Lincoln and Ghandi not Hitler. He is now top of my list of people I’d invite to dinner. Amazing human being.
Luke
23 March 2022
I hope you understand he was not the only rapist of his time it was commonplace in his time to do horrible things to women the same thing with the founding fathers they were racists because everyone back then was racist
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john smith
28 May 2019
Thank you whoever wrote this it is very useful.
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Unurjargal Gombo
17 April 2019
Very good article about Chingis Khaan .. First time I read such a positive article about Chingis Khaan .. He accomplished a lot of good things which people should know... Ine day I will write about Him and make a good movie 🎥... Thanks..
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Leonardo Dicaprio
05 April 2019
just great great great!
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Soso
06 March 2019
So Genghis Khan was a hero or a villain? Please let me know
kyrsten limelight
25 November 2020
sorry I meant to say he was a villain
me
29 October 2020
how can you even say that he is a good guy! HE KILLED 40 MILLION PEOPLE!!
Warisha Khan
14 August 2020
He might have established some good things in his reign but the process through which he established his prosperous rule was by killing thousands of innocent lives including women and children. What type of sick person kills unarmed children?
The Unbiased One
04 June 2020
According to articles on him, 6 out of 7 articles think of him as a good person. The majority states the truth. He has committed the most murders in the world but like this article stated, "Genghis Khan actually preferred that his enemies surrender and pay a tax to be protected then, and believed into loyalty and diplomatic laws." Another thing is that he helped unite countries that used to be enemies such as China and Russia, while also helping establish trade across Asia and Europe. So I would not say he was a hero, but he was a good person, not bad mind you.
dillan campbell
15 October 2019
Hero for sure.
LeonardoDaVinci
05 April 2019
Great article!
Genghis Khan
05 April 2019
Villain
kyrsten limelight
15 March 2019
he was a hero.
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STELLA GIMENEZ
28 February 2019
I love this article and thank you for sharing your knowledge about Genghis Khan here. Do you have any source of information or any information about what had made Temujin 'inspired' to start his idea of uniting the tribes? How old he might have been at that time? I imagine very young. Did he have a mentor? A shaman? Thank you, Stella
shayan
27 December 2020
based on my knowledge, he suffered the loss of his father (khan of the wolves) when he was a teenager, then he and his family were abandoned by the new khan leaving them nothing behind, basically left for dead. they had to survive in the wilderness by themselves as wanderers, when back then wanderers were in constant danger of sudden attacks from different tribes. years passed until he was kidnapped by the same tribe that had abandoned him, but managed to escape, with the help of some people who were loyal to his father. After his escape he had vowed to demolish this system of tribalism and unite them all under one flag. Thus making him the only khan.
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