Many readers often wonder how much of my stories are based on history, and how much is just fiction. If you’ve ever wondered about the portrayal of Genghis Khan (or Chinggis Khan) in my second novel, The Golden Khan, here’s a fantastic book that I would highly recommend: Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford.
Genghis Khan is one of the most famous and influential figures in history, yet his legacy is often misunderstood and misrepresented. In this book, Jack Weatherford, a professor of anthropology and an expert on Mongolian culture, challenges the conventional view of Genghis Khan as a ruthless barbarian who destroyed civilizations and terrorised the world. Instead, Weatherford presents a nuanced and compelling portrait of Genghis Khan as a visionary leader, a brilliant strategist, and a catalyst for global change. He shows how Genghis Khan unified the warring tribes of Mongolia, created a meritocratic and multicultural empire, promoted trade and commerce, and established a lasting legacy that influenced many aspects of the modern world. He also explores the impact of Genghis Khan’s descendants, who continued to expand and rule over the largest contiguous land empire in history.