The Mongol Empire
John Man is an acknowledged authority on Mongolia and its history. His book presents a sweeping account of the Mongol empire, from its foundation by Genghis Khan in the late 12th century to its control of one-fifth of the inhabited world by Genghis’s grandson, Kublai Khan, in the late 13th century. The account of the young Genghis raised in dire poverty is fascinating. That of his infamous adult life and Kublai’s story are equally so. But the section I particularly enjoyed was the story of Genghis’s daughter-in-law and mother of Kublai, Sorkaktani. Man refers to her as ‘the most remarkable woman of her age’ and she certainly could lay claim to that title. Widowed early, she amassed wealth, respect and influence. Though Christian, she believed in religious tolerance (as, surprisingly, did Genghis). Sorkaktani financed the building of mosques and madrassas and had her sons (including Kublai) educated in different religions. She was instrumental in Kublai becoming khan and lived to the age of seventy. Beautifully illustrated and with helpful maps, this is an accessible and fascinating history. Recommended.
