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Genghis Khan: Conqueror of the World
Genghis Khan's armies breached the Great Wall of China, captured Beijing, and crushed all resistance in Afghanistan, Persia and Southern Russia by ruthless massacres and pillage. His armies also invaded Europe. Yet until now no historically reliable book about him has been written for a popular audience.
This book analyses how Genghis Khan was able to unite the primitive Mongol tribes of the harsh Siberian steppes and organize them into highly mobile and disciplined troops. It shows how he created a regime so strong that his son was able to extend the conquests after the death of Genghis Khan himself. Leo de Hartog pays particular attention to the little-studied Mongol invasion of Europe and explores Europe's contacts with the great Khan.
This book analyses how Genghis Khan was able to unite the primitive Mongol tribes of the harsh Siberian steppes and organize them into highly mobile and disciplined troops. It shows how he created a regime so strong that his son was able to extend the conquests after the death of Genghis Khan himself. Leo de Hartog pays particular attention to the little-studied Mongol invasion of Europe and explores Europe's contacts with the great Khan.
230 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1979
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 26, 2020
This book has a wealth of knowledge and an interesting origin story (he started the book while imprisoned in a Nazi camp) but it is a dry narrative. The ending is VERY sudden and rushed, as if Hartog got bored once Genghis Khan died. Better maps would have done wonders here.
December 9, 2009
This is a workmanlike little history of the career highlights of the most unlovable of the Great Captains. Unfortunately, the author has little time for context, psychological analysis or chrome of any kind: this is history by Joe Friday with "just the facts, Ma'am." Even more unfortunate is the author's appalling attempt to forgive Genghis Kahn's unbelievable atrocities (e.g., routinely and literally killing every man, woman, child, fetus, dog and cat in cities which fell to the Mongol hordes) by arguing that his acts of barbarity were no worse than those of others at that time (without providing any examples of same). This type of moral relativity is completely ridiculous and without merit, at least to me.
In any event, I am glad that this book was short since GK has to be one of the least compelling military geniuses of all time. While I recognize that most of the brilliant generals of history were unrepentant megalomaniacs, at least Alexander was personally brave and daring, Napoleon had tons of panache and style, etc. As far as I could tell from this book, GK had no redeeming qualities. He consistently double-crossed his allies, had no discernable sense of honor (e.g., he constantly went back on his word and repeatedly executed warriors and civilians who had surrendered based upon his promises of safe passage or mercy), had a Khmer Rouge-like disdain for the accoutrements of civilization and its cities, ravaged Central Asia so severely that significant parts of it have not recovered 800 years later, and created no great architecture, art or tangible legacy of any kind with all the plunder he seized. Indeed, it seems that GK was only motivated by his paranoia of internal/external threats and his lust for women (this guy must have had more sex than Wilt Chamberlain and Tiger Woods combined, apparently screwing every dead King, Kahn and candlestick maker's wife he could get his hands on).
Finally, I note that it seems that most of GK's military success was the result of the amazing disunity of his enemies, their lack of effective command and control and their employment of some of the most stupid tactics of all time. This takes nothing away from GK's incredible conquest of most of China, all of Korea, all of Central Asia, Persia, the Caucus states and lower Russia, or his defeat of every Western Army he faced in Poland, Hungary and Germany. It just makes him less enjoyable to read about than the Hannibals, Shermans or Rommels of the world.
In any event, I am glad that this book was short since GK has to be one of the least compelling military geniuses of all time. While I recognize that most of the brilliant generals of history were unrepentant megalomaniacs, at least Alexander was personally brave and daring, Napoleon had tons of panache and style, etc. As far as I could tell from this book, GK had no redeeming qualities. He consistently double-crossed his allies, had no discernable sense of honor (e.g., he constantly went back on his word and repeatedly executed warriors and civilians who had surrendered based upon his promises of safe passage or mercy), had a Khmer Rouge-like disdain for the accoutrements of civilization and its cities, ravaged Central Asia so severely that significant parts of it have not recovered 800 years later, and created no great architecture, art or tangible legacy of any kind with all the plunder he seized. Indeed, it seems that GK was only motivated by his paranoia of internal/external threats and his lust for women (this guy must have had more sex than Wilt Chamberlain and Tiger Woods combined, apparently screwing every dead King, Kahn and candlestick maker's wife he could get his hands on).
Finally, I note that it seems that most of GK's military success was the result of the amazing disunity of his enemies, their lack of effective command and control and their employment of some of the most stupid tactics of all time. This takes nothing away from GK's incredible conquest of most of China, all of Korea, all of Central Asia, Persia, the Caucus states and lower Russia, or his defeat of every Western Army he faced in Poland, Hungary and Germany. It just makes him less enjoyable to read about than the Hannibals, Shermans or Rommels of the world.
January 17, 2023
If you feel like the world is messed up, read books about the Mongol crusades! So violent!! In many ways, we've never had it so good!
I picked this up in a second hand book shop and I learned a lot but there was a lot that I couldn't follow. The names of tribes, places that no longer have those names and leaders often got lost to me but I was able to follow the general trajectory of the raids.
Basically, the Mongos went north, east, south and west and they could not be stopped. When they raided a town, they killed indescriminately and when the raids were over they divided up the people into three groups: the artisans were sent back to Mongol territory to bring their crafts and trades to the Mongols, the women were raped and enslaved, the rest were used as cannon fodder for the next battle. Repeat. Human lives had very little value. When the Mongols decided to slaughter an entire town, each soldier was given 300 people at a time to behead. When Genghis Khan died, his heir ordered 40 beautiful women chosen from high-ranking families to be slaughtered on his grave to serve him in the afterlife. It's hard to imagine living during this time of constant death. Be glad you don't!
I picked this up in a second hand book shop and I learned a lot but there was a lot that I couldn't follow. The names of tribes, places that no longer have those names and leaders often got lost to me but I was able to follow the general trajectory of the raids.
Basically, the Mongos went north, east, south and west and they could not be stopped. When they raided a town, they killed indescriminately and when the raids were over they divided up the people into three groups: the artisans were sent back to Mongol territory to bring their crafts and trades to the Mongols, the women were raped and enslaved, the rest were used as cannon fodder for the next battle. Repeat. Human lives had very little value. When the Mongols decided to slaughter an entire town, each soldier was given 300 people at a time to behead. When Genghis Khan died, his heir ordered 40 beautiful women chosen from high-ranking families to be slaughtered on his grave to serve him in the afterlife. It's hard to imagine living during this time of constant death. Be glad you don't!
April 2, 2023
I was hoping for a pleasant-reading history of Genghis Khan, but this is not it. This is very academic, with little attempt made at an engaging writing style. Not to say that the content isn't good or accurate (though since is the first biography of his I've read, who am I to know?), but the book is a slog to read most of the way through.
I found it curious that the main primary sources drawn from are European, as Genghis himself was illiterate (as was likely most of his court), and because there were few survivors of his attacks who took the time to document them.
I was hoping for detailed battle accounts and tactics, but found none of those.
I found it curious that the main primary sources drawn from are European, as Genghis himself was illiterate (as was likely most of his court), and because there were few survivors of his attacks who took the time to document them.
I was hoping for detailed battle accounts and tactics, but found none of those.
August 15, 2018
This might just be the most dry history I've ever read, and that's saying something. A massive and fascinating empire, reduced to simple dates, names and locations with no real context for the vast majority of it.
November 1, 2014
Genghis Kahn's life makes for a great story and the journey he made to conquer most of the known world is incredible. This book was very difficult to get through. The narration was brutally slow, I am sure there is a better version out there. This one gets out all the points, but It could have been told better.
August 12, 2021
If a single phrase can be used to describe Central Asia during the 13th and 14th Centuries, that phrase would be “war without end.”
At the beginning of that period, the Mongols under Genghis Khan (Temujin) boiled out of their homeland, and in a decades-long campaign assembled the largest empire the world has ever known. Genghis Khan was convinced that his god Tengri, who ruled the Eternal Heaven, had decreed that he was destined to be the ruler of the world. The Mongols almost succeeded in accomplishing this goal, leaving behind them millions of corpses, devastated cities and farmlands, and scars which would take centuries to heal (if they ever did). Yet, as quickly as it came, the Mongol Empire disintegrated into squabbling, rival Khanates after Temujin’s death in 1227. Though a sizable part of Eurasia continued to be ruled by the Mongols for several centuries, the smaller kingdoms never did wield the power or influence of the early Empire, and gradually faded away as native populations gradually reasserted their dominance.
Telling this story in a coherent way is a daunting task; sad to say, Hartog only partially succeeds. This book is a translation from the Dutch and the narrative is told in a very wooden, plodding way. It should have begun with an overall picture of Central Asia and a map showing the relationship of all the small kingdoms and tribal areas to each other (such as can be found in the Wikipedia entries under “Mongol Empire” or “Khwarezm”). Sadly, all the maps in the book cover areas that are too small to give the reader an idea of the overall picture, and the narrative presents the reader with a confusing jigsaw puzzle of tribal names and place names, and the relationships of the various pieces to each other are very difficult to determine (the Wikipedia maps really helped!). While the narrative does give a general idea of the military genius, ruthlessness and barbarity of Temujin and his generals and successors, the main focus is simply on tribal politics and on one battle after another. Much too little time is spent on Mongol society, religion, and military organization, and on why the states of western Asia and eastern Europe proved to be such easy targets in the period 1211-1240; and the narrative cuts off abruptly with the death of Güyük Khan in 1248 without any discussion of the later campaigns in the Levant, the destruction of Baghdad in 1258, or the attempts to invade Japan; or anything about the overall legacy, good or bad, left behind by the Mongols. Perhaps this is because the author did not want to get too far away from the story of Temujin himself, but the way the narrative ends leaves the reader (at least this one!) feeling very unfulfilled. This book will serve as a superficial introduction to the subject, but a search of other sources is highly recommended for better understanding.
**** review by Chuck Graham ****
At the beginning of that period, the Mongols under Genghis Khan (Temujin) boiled out of their homeland, and in a decades-long campaign assembled the largest empire the world has ever known. Genghis Khan was convinced that his god Tengri, who ruled the Eternal Heaven, had decreed that he was destined to be the ruler of the world. The Mongols almost succeeded in accomplishing this goal, leaving behind them millions of corpses, devastated cities and farmlands, and scars which would take centuries to heal (if they ever did). Yet, as quickly as it came, the Mongol Empire disintegrated into squabbling, rival Khanates after Temujin’s death in 1227. Though a sizable part of Eurasia continued to be ruled by the Mongols for several centuries, the smaller kingdoms never did wield the power or influence of the early Empire, and gradually faded away as native populations gradually reasserted their dominance.
Telling this story in a coherent way is a daunting task; sad to say, Hartog only partially succeeds. This book is a translation from the Dutch and the narrative is told in a very wooden, plodding way. It should have begun with an overall picture of Central Asia and a map showing the relationship of all the small kingdoms and tribal areas to each other (such as can be found in the Wikipedia entries under “Mongol Empire” or “Khwarezm”). Sadly, all the maps in the book cover areas that are too small to give the reader an idea of the overall picture, and the narrative presents the reader with a confusing jigsaw puzzle of tribal names and place names, and the relationships of the various pieces to each other are very difficult to determine (the Wikipedia maps really helped!). While the narrative does give a general idea of the military genius, ruthlessness and barbarity of Temujin and his generals and successors, the main focus is simply on tribal politics and on one battle after another. Much too little time is spent on Mongol society, religion, and military organization, and on why the states of western Asia and eastern Europe proved to be such easy targets in the period 1211-1240; and the narrative cuts off abruptly with the death of Güyük Khan in 1248 without any discussion of the later campaigns in the Levant, the destruction of Baghdad in 1258, or the attempts to invade Japan; or anything about the overall legacy, good or bad, left behind by the Mongols. Perhaps this is because the author did not want to get too far away from the story of Temujin himself, but the way the narrative ends leaves the reader (at least this one!) feeling very unfulfilled. This book will serve as a superficial introduction to the subject, but a search of other sources is highly recommended for better understanding.
**** review by Chuck Graham ****
January 4, 2024
Genghis Khan: Conqueror of the World by Leo de Hartog.
2/5 rating.
Book #101 of 2019. Read August 22, 2019.
It was kinda interesting to learn about a world leader who had a huge impact on Asia and Europe, but this was purely factual, no narrative at all apart from the fact that it went chronologically. This made it a slog to get through and not too enjoyable.
2/5 rating.
Book #101 of 2019. Read August 22, 2019.
It was kinda interesting to learn about a world leader who had a huge impact on Asia and Europe, but this was purely factual, no narrative at all apart from the fact that it went chronologically. This made it a slog to get through and not too enjoyable.
September 18, 2021
When I picked this up, I was hoping for a more in depth look into the life of Genghis Khan. While it does have little snippets of Genghis Khan’s life, most of it involved describing the happenings of the world around him and so I am a little disappointed.
June 28, 2021
A nice sum of various aspects of the Mongol life. Focused mainly on political and military areas. Factual data is logically constructed. I havent experienced blind copying of contemporary authors’ numbers and estimations. This book was one of the main pillars when writing my thesis.
September 30, 2023
6,5/10
Read polish version:
Title: "Czyngis-Chan Zdobywca Świata"
* Author(s) name(s): Leo de Hartog
* ISBN (or ASIN): 978-83-11-10898-1
* Publisher: Bellona
* Publication date: 2007
* Format: Hardcover
* Page count: 255
* Description: none
* Language: Polish
Read polish version:
Title: "Czyngis-Chan Zdobywca Świata"
* Author(s) name(s): Leo de Hartog
* ISBN (or ASIN): 978-83-11-10898-1
* Publisher: Bellona
* Publication date: 2007
* Format: Hardcover
* Page count: 255
* Description: none
* Language: Polish
July 15, 2013
Oh my goodness. Just about the only cool thing about this book is that de Hartog started research for this book while in a Nazi concentration camp. You want the book to be good for that reason. Unfortunately, once the book starts, you're left wondering when the good stuff will start.
A lot of the book reads like a simple book report. There are end notes for everything with very little explanation of anything, making it seem as if de Hartog doesn't have any knowledge of the subject. When you read a non-fiction book, you want the author to at least persuade you into thinking that he/she knows what he is talking about. Yes, the book contains a lot of information, but without explanation of new concepts or major statements, you're left wondering whether de Hartog understands anything that he wrote. I don't question him, I'm just commenting on the style of the book itself.
Also, far too much of the book has nothing to do with Genghis Khan. The final quarter of the book, or maybe the final third, covers Mongol expansion after the first Great Khan's death. Surely this has something to do with Temujin (Genghis's given name) in that he created the empire and its form that would later conquer more nations, but this book, by its title and by de Hartog's introduction, is supposed to be a reader-friendly exposition on Genghis Khan himself, not on the Mongol Empire in general. Maybe the final quarter of the book would be more acceptable if de Hartog had tied threads together, but he doesn't. And whenever the Mongols, in the de Hartog's coverage, are about to encounter a new tribe or nation, de Hartog then spends a significant amount of time giving that tribe or nation's history. Again, this wouldn't seem like such a big deal if that history were more connected to the story that de Hartog tells, but he doesn't connect threads.
A lot of the time, too, de Hartog makes grand statements like, "This was one of the greatest campaigns in military history," or "He was one of the greatest tacticians ever," but leaves the reader to figure out why. de Hartog does tell you the background information that apparently should lead you to agree with his assessment but he never actually tells you why that information is so important or should lead to such conclusions.
All in all, by reading this book you will probably learn some stuff about Genghis Khan and the Mongols if you are currently clueless, like I was. But even being clueless prior to reading, you'll finish the book wondering why you wasted your time.
A lot of the book reads like a simple book report. There are end notes for everything with very little explanation of anything, making it seem as if de Hartog doesn't have any knowledge of the subject. When you read a non-fiction book, you want the author to at least persuade you into thinking that he/she knows what he is talking about. Yes, the book contains a lot of information, but without explanation of new concepts or major statements, you're left wondering whether de Hartog understands anything that he wrote. I don't question him, I'm just commenting on the style of the book itself.
Also, far too much of the book has nothing to do with Genghis Khan. The final quarter of the book, or maybe the final third, covers Mongol expansion after the first Great Khan's death. Surely this has something to do with Temujin (Genghis's given name) in that he created the empire and its form that would later conquer more nations, but this book, by its title and by de Hartog's introduction, is supposed to be a reader-friendly exposition on Genghis Khan himself, not on the Mongol Empire in general. Maybe the final quarter of the book would be more acceptable if de Hartog had tied threads together, but he doesn't. And whenever the Mongols, in the de Hartog's coverage, are about to encounter a new tribe or nation, de Hartog then spends a significant amount of time giving that tribe or nation's history. Again, this wouldn't seem like such a big deal if that history were more connected to the story that de Hartog tells, but he doesn't connect threads.
A lot of the time, too, de Hartog makes grand statements like, "This was one of the greatest campaigns in military history," or "He was one of the greatest tacticians ever," but leaves the reader to figure out why. de Hartog does tell you the background information that apparently should lead you to agree with his assessment but he never actually tells you why that information is so important or should lead to such conclusions.
All in all, by reading this book you will probably learn some stuff about Genghis Khan and the Mongols if you are currently clueless, like I was. But even being clueless prior to reading, you'll finish the book wondering why you wasted your time.
September 15, 2016
This is a scholarly biography about one of the world's most amazing men. Born into a minor clan of the Mongols, illiterate throughout his life, he nonetheless survived several brushes with death in youth and went on to create a huge empire that stretched from Korea and Manchuria in the east to Southwest Asia and Iran to the west. He conquered northern China and adopted many Chinese administrative and intellectual structures from them. Though absolutely ruthless (executing all town inhabitants where any resistance was displayed - many, many times), he was tolerant of various religious practices and was usually willing to deal in negotiations with adversaries. What he did not understand was that killing everyone and burning down the town lost him a great deal of long-term wealth. He also established legal and administrative systems that would last for several generations.
The reading is difficult for several reasons. First, the biography begins before Temujin's birth (Temujin was his birth name) and extends well past his death to emphasize his legacy on Eurasia. Second, there is a blizzard of names of people, places, tribes, etc., that we sometimes meet just once, then never again. The place names may be found in one of 5 maps, but not all are on the maps as they may be small locations, and their exact locations may be lost. Knowledgable Britidh readers will be familiar with many locations, less so Yanks as our global reach was pretty short until just recently; we will know Baghdad, Kabul, Mosul and a few more. Lovers of Oriental rugs will recognize Tabriz and Bukhara, but many other locations are just words.
There is a good References Cited section, along with a bibliography and a list of other allied books to read and a useable index. It is a great book if you already know something of the man and have already studied maps of this huge area. Otherwise start with another book, perhaps Harold Lamb's old biography. Also, photocopy the 5 maps and have them handy as you read along. I enjoyed the book but became lost in the blizzard of unknown names and places.
The reading is difficult for several reasons. First, the biography begins before Temujin's birth (Temujin was his birth name) and extends well past his death to emphasize his legacy on Eurasia. Second, there is a blizzard of names of people, places, tribes, etc., that we sometimes meet just once, then never again. The place names may be found in one of 5 maps, but not all are on the maps as they may be small locations, and their exact locations may be lost. Knowledgable Britidh readers will be familiar with many locations, less so Yanks as our global reach was pretty short until just recently; we will know Baghdad, Kabul, Mosul and a few more. Lovers of Oriental rugs will recognize Tabriz and Bukhara, but many other locations are just words.
There is a good References Cited section, along with a bibliography and a list of other allied books to read and a useable index. It is a great book if you already know something of the man and have already studied maps of this huge area. Otherwise start with another book, perhaps Harold Lamb's old biography. Also, photocopy the 5 maps and have them handy as you read along. I enjoyed the book but became lost in the blizzard of unknown names and places.
January 8, 2015
This book was ok. The first part was good. I kinda lost interest in the middle. The last part was the best part of the book in my opinion. The beginning gives you a general history of Khan and his family. The middle section goes into a general history of the area and people before Khan started his conquest. With all the names of people and countries and cities... I had a hard time really keeping track. Plus I wasn't really interested in those things. Basically the book kinda wandered away of Khan's story for awhile. When it gets back to Khan it covers his conquest. I never realized how much he had accomplished. Usually out numbered and traveling way beyond the boundaries of his country, Genghis Khan probably had the most successful and remarkable conquest in all of history. Covering an ENORMOUS area and almost never losing a battle. The story of Khan has the potential to make a great book and I wouldn't be surprised if there is a better book about him out there. This book could have been better but I still learned a lot. 2 1/2 stars.
March 9, 2014
This book is terrible. At least the first pages. I give it another 30 mins.
I quit. Unreadably bad writing. Like an undergraduate history paper ... only longer. Hopelessly Euro-centric in its perspective, and executed with a stupefying dullness of style. Though there are moments of levity, at the author's expense, I cannot endure any more.
Rather than leave on a low note, let me share my favorite sentence of the few pages I was able to endure: "In addition to the characteristics already mentioned - tolerance, unhygienic habits and frequent drunkenness - the mongols possessed other personal qualities." This sums up the author's general perspective and approach ... and made me laugh.
I quit. Unreadably bad writing. Like an undergraduate history paper ... only longer. Hopelessly Euro-centric in its perspective, and executed with a stupefying dullness of style. Though there are moments of levity, at the author's expense, I cannot endure any more.
Rather than leave on a low note, let me share my favorite sentence of the few pages I was able to endure: "In addition to the characteristics already mentioned - tolerance, unhygienic habits and frequent drunkenness - the mongols possessed other personal qualities." This sums up the author's general perspective and approach ... and made me laugh.
December 17, 2014
I bought this book on a whim at a library sale. Overall, the book is not bad for a concise history of the "World Conqueror" and the empire he built. My problem with the book was that the author switched formats in that in the beginning he had chapters covering specific topics such as the organization of the Mongol Army but then later on changed to a time line.
A good book for those with a simple curiosity and not wanting to get into a lengthy, weighty more in depth level reading.
A good book for those with a simple curiosity and not wanting to get into a lengthy, weighty more in depth level reading.
December 3, 2008
Good summary
July 2, 2011
Genghis Khan was a dick.
August 26, 2012
Move along. There's nothing to see here. Unless you like genocidal tyrants and lecherous war criminals.
May 16, 2017
Great for history buffs.
June 19, 2019
Ehh. I wanted to love this book but could never get into a groove. Hope to find a better bio on him.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews