Genghis Kahn's Empire

The photo above is from a mountain above the Khalan River where Genghis Khan first established the Mongolian Nation State. There are burial mounds marking the spot just to the right of this picture.

Genghis Khan, now dear reader please pause for a moment and conjure in your mind the image you have when you hear those two words................................................................................Now most of those images are probably correct, but the Great Khan is a much more complex historical character to know. For many historians he was the single most influential person of the second millennium. Not only did he unite the East and the West for the first time in human history, but his policies influenced the collapse of feudalism in Europe. He brought the idea of secular government to be established for the first time. He divided the spoils of war to all members of the society including widows and orphans. He tolerated and promoted the freedom of all religions. Because of his policies toward the peasants, he influenced the framers of the Magna Carta. He established the first free trade alliances. He set laws governing the environment and the protection of wildlife. He also set laws that he, his family, and government official would be held in account. While he outlawed the buying and selling of slaves, he did conscript millions of people to fight and serve in the army and care for his citizens. I think the main difference between the Genghis Khan and the rest of the Empire builders like Alexander, Caesars, Napoleon and even the great W, is that they were from "civilized" nations wanting the resources of the "backward" nations. But with the Great Khan he was from an agrarian nation wanting the resources of the "civilized" nations. When he won those battles he distributed the wealth and governed more fairly than other civilizations.
Just a short reminder to ourselves that global warming is disastrous, not only for the horrible fires in our own lands, but the top photo, the one that looks like the deserts of Northern Nevada, should be green this time of year. The Environment of Mongolia is very susceptible to the slightest change in temperature. Millions of people that live off the land will be forced to move to the cities where there are already no jobs for them.

Love
Boomboom