Description
Book SynopsisThe Mongol Empire was the mightiest land empire the world has ever seen. At its height it was twice the size of its Roman equivalent. For a remarkable century and a half it commanded a population of 100 million people, while the rule of Chinggis (Genghis) Khan marched undefeated from the Pacific Ocean to the Caspian Sea. George Lane argues that the Mongols were not only subjugators who swept all before them but one of the great organising forces of world history. His book traces the rise of the Great Khan in 1206 to the dissolution of the empire in 1368 by the Ming Dynasty. He discusses the unification of the Turko-Mongol tribes under Chinggis' leadership; the establishment of a vigorous imperium whose Pax Mongolica held mastery over the Central Asian steppes; imaginative policies of religious pluralism; and the rich legacy of the Toluid Empire of Yuan China and Ilkhanate Iran. Offering a bold and sympathetic understanding of Mongol history, the author shows that commercial expansion, cultural assimilation and dynamic political growth were as crucial to Mongol success as desire for conquest.
Trade Review'This is a very good introduction to the Mongol Empire, written with a sense of drama which many comparable narratives lack. While not denying the destruction caused by the Mongols, George Lane demonstrates - in his pacy and readable survey - the wide and long-lasting impact of the Mongol imperium. Specialists and students alike will appreciate its many merits.' - Timothy May, Professor of Central Eurasian History, University of North Georgia, author of The Mongol Conquests in World History
