Chinggis (Genghis) Khan

Abstract

Chinggis (often spelled Genghis) Khan was an illiterate nomad who created a world empire that is still remembered today. Chinggis Khan’s later success as a world conqueror was based on his skills in organizing men in the nomadic society into which he was born. He was seeking political and commercial relations with the large Islamic state of Khwarazm when he sent a delegation to the shah in 1218; unfortunately the entire trade delegation—except one—was murdered on the way, thus bringing on the full wrath of Chinggis Khan. That event heralded the first full push by Chinggis and his sons westward to extend his nascent empire, which only ended at the gates of Europe and not by any military defeat experienced by the Mongols.