Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World

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A 2004 book by anthropologist and Macalester College professor Jack Weatherford, Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World is a revisionist history that generally favors the Mongols. It is largely based on The Secret History of the Mongols and emphasizes the military brilliance of Temujin (Genghis Khan). The book also attributes much of the Renaissance to Genghis Khan's influence. Finally the book attempts to put the Mongols in a more positive light.

The book suggests that the historical depiction of the Mongols as the most terrible savages that destroyed all civilization was due to the Mongols dealings with the opposing hereditary aristocracies. In battle, the Mongols always annihilated these ruling classes in order to better subdue the general population. Since it was these aristocratic classes that could write, their treatment at the hands of the Mongols was what was recorded throughout history. However, what was less well known was the treatment of the general population (peasants, tradesmen, merchants) under Mongol rule. The book states that in general Mongol rule was less burdensome on the masses due to lighter taxes, tolerance of local customs & religions, less capricious administration, universal education for all.

These benefits were only enjoyed by populations that surrendered immeidiately to the Mongol invaders. Those populations that resisted in any way could be annihilated in a massacre as a warning to other towns/cities. These massacres were a method of psychological warfare that was used on populations not yet conquered. The resulting terror helped color the historical portrayal of the Mongols. The book reminds the reader that genocide and other heinous acts were not uncommon during this period of history.

Since the Mongols were horsemen of the steppes that didn't have any industrial output of their own, they were dependent on taxes from their subjugated peoples for Mongol wealth. To increase that wealth, instead of increasing the tax burden on the masses, the Mongols encouraged their subjects to be more productive and enterprising. They did this by sponsoring lucrative global trade, encouraged scientific advances, improved agriculture and production methods. Many innovations came from mixing technologies from different cultures within their global empire.

In the book, the author suggests that some of Kublai Khan's (grand-son of Genghis) reforms in China, which localized power, and gave political strength to individual farms, was the first democratic experience in China, and continued only when the Republicans and Communists began to reintroduce local government. The author also suggests that the tribal government of the Mongols had many democratic elements, and refers to Mongol leaders being selected by council as "elections." In addition, several times he emphasizes the point that Khans ruled through the will of the people.

The book discusses some beneficial aspects of the Mongol empire:

• Unprecedented religious tolerance
• Low level of discrimination toward other races
• Low level of meddling with local customs and culture
• The idea of rule by consensus within Mongol tribes
• Culture of meritocracy
• Culture that believed in the rule of law
• Strong sponsorship of global trade
• Building of roads to support trade
• First culture to promote universal literacy
• First international postal system
• First widespread use of paper money
• Reduction of the use of torture in the penal system
• Belief in diplomatic immunity for ambassadors/envoys

The book argues that the Mongol Empire was the impetus for the European Age of Discovery. Europeans two centuries later were trying to reclaim the lucrative global trade that was lost when the Mongol Empire collapsed.