Genghis Khan has unfairly been labeled among histories most barbaric leaders. Contrary to our modern day misconceptions, Genghis Khan was centuries ahead of his time. He was the first major leader to select generals based on their ability and loyalty, as opposed to the common practice of generals being chosen by blood lines. No longer did people have to be born a herder and die a herder. For the first time it wasn't who you knew, it was what you knew. The social fabric of society from China to Europe was turned upside down with this new idea created by Genghis.
Genghis was revolutionary in his view of religion as well. In every city that he conquered he allowed religious freedom. Nearly every religion existed openly within his Mongol realm. His army was composed of Jews, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Taoists, Hindu's and Animists. Never in Genghis Khan's life as a conqueror did he destroy religious buildings or the lives of holy men. While Christians and Muslims spilled endless blood during the Crusades, Genghis Khan's realm enjoyed religious harmony.
Genghis Khan's Achievements
Perhaps the greatest enduring myth about Genghis Khan was his "lust for blood". Genghis (like many Mongols) feared the sight of blood. Because of this cultural aversion to bloodshed, capital punishment was often death by breaking the criminals back. Dozens of cities were left unharmed by Genghis, so long as they submitted to Mongol rule. Genghis Khan decreed that torture was forbidden throughout the Mongol Empire. Meanwhile in Europe, priests were using torture to make "witches" confess their crimes.
Genghis knew that in order to keep his large territory peaceful, he needed to implement laws. Genghis Khan made it illegal to prosecute someone without substantial evidence. This new law ensured that people in all social classes could expect equal treatment. He produced the first system of paper money, that would be used empire wide. Prior to this, bulky metals such as gold and silver had to be exchanged for every transaction.
Perhaps Genghis Khan's only flaw may have been his inability to convey upon his sons the proper way to govern. Shortly after his death, Genghis Khan's sons feuded amongst themselves about land boundaries and how to govern them. Despite this, the empire would continue, and in some cases expand even further. Kublai Khan (though not a genius at warfare like his grandfather) instituted history altering changes. He established the first public school system, centuries before the same would be done in Europe. Like his grandfather Genghis, he encouraged trade and the sharing of knowledge across borders. Under Kublai, the printing press was invented, and the empire enjoyed a high rate of literacy amongst all social classes.
Genghis Dies, the Myth is Born
The Black Death dealt a heavy blow to the Mongol Empire, and as time passed, the new leaders strayed from Genghis Khan's teachings. In 1370, Tamerlane was born. He would be the man responsible for giving Genghis Khan a bad name in history. He was born in modern day Uzbekistan, and claimed (with flimsy evidence) that he was descended from Genghis Khan. All of the negative stereotypes that have been given to Genghis Khan were found in this man. After a tax revolt in Tamerlane's city of Isfahan, he massacred the entire population of 70,000, after which he piled the skulls into 28 towers. Tamerlane even sowed salt into the farmland so that nothing would ever grow there again. Because Tamerlane proclaimed that he was the descendant of Genghis, the line between Genghis and Tamerlane become forever blurred in history. Centuries later, the famous Voltaire would write a play about Genghis Khan titled The Orphan of China. In his play he portrayed Genghis as a merciless barbarian. Voltaire used Genghis Khan as a way of demeaning the current French king, without attacking him directly.
Genghis Khan deserves a historical reassessment. If we can see through the years of misinformation and confusion that have given him such a bad reputation, perhaps we can see the truth behind this legendary figure. Maybe in the future, school textbooks will not call him a murderer or barbarian, but instead refer to him as Genghis Khan, the good guy.
Sources:
Jack Weatherford, Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World, 2004 Three River Press, New York
Will Harasta - Will Harasta is a Historian without a degree, a sword without a sheath and a book without a bookmark. He lives in both Wudang Monastery, ...
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