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GENGHIS KHAN
by John Man
Bantam, May 2004
389 pages
20.00GBP
ISBN: 0593050444


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

British traveller and historian John Man has, prior to this volume on his special topic of interest, Mongolia, written GOBI: TRACKING THE DESERT, ATLAS OF THE YEAR 1000, ALPHA BETA, A HISTORY OF THE ALPHABET and THE GUTENBERG REVOLUTION, A HISTORY OF PRINTING. Now he presents readers with a well-written, informatively-illustrated and well-researched historical travelogue.

The author begins his lively account of the life, times and influence of Genghis Khan with the remarkable fact that, according to a unique genetic marker on the Y chromosome, 16 million men scattered across 16 population groups from the Caspian sea to the Pacific Ocean all share a common ancestor. The suggestion that this ancestor was Genghis himself is perhaps something of a stretch, but it seems clear that the enormously wide-ranging campaigns of Genghis and his Mongol army made this phenomenon possible.

Man introduces us to the Mongolian people, an attractive group. Their diet contains some unusual dishes, for example their penchant for the meat of the marmot, a large, docile and easily captured rodent cooked using stones heated on a dung fire, wire, pliers and a blowtorch. I wonder how many people will rush down to their local Mongolian barbecue to see if this delicacy is on the menu!

The Secret History is the source of much detail of Genghis's life. This warts and all biography, preserved through arcane translations between Mongolian and Chinese, gives much unflattering detail, and overlooks whole campaigns, apparently because everything went perfectly according to plan.

Temujin, as he was born, had a tough childhood. The early death of his father left his family destitute and living hand to mouth off the land. At the age of 13 he murdered a half-brother, and soon after this, found himself a fugitive and then a captive. Temujin was lucky, and managed with great determination to escape. He formed some close friendships during this period, and those who helped him were to become great generals in his army. Indeed, Temujin came to manhood with a reputation for ruthlessness, loyalty, and being fortunate, all qualities which the Mongols would find appealing in a leader.

Genghis Khan's rise to power and career of conquest could make for tedious reading but Man brings a light touch to the narrative -- if such a story of brutal conquest can be dealt with lightly. But there was light among the darkness. Genghis realised that illiteracy was no use when there was an Empire to be governed, and commissioned a written version of the Mongolian language. And he needed educated Chinese civil servants as administrators. Thus, eventually, the Taoist sage Ch'ang-ch'un brought enlightenment to the aging Khan.

Such a dominant character from history inevitably has caused ripples right down to our own times. In Mongolia itself, Genghis Khan is restored to his position of national icon after his memory had been suppressed during the era of Russian Communist domination. In China he is remembered as a great Chinese figure -- after all he was the founder of the Yuan dynasty. And since Genghis, the Mongolian, was Chinese then -- so the Chinese logic goes -- Mongolia must be a part of China. Clearly the political fallout from Genghis's reign is not over yet.

Genghis Khan died on campaign, and his death was covered up until after his enemies had duly been defeated. His burial place is unknown. Or is it? There are a few clues and John Man concludes his enjoyable and engaging book by embarking on a search for the grave. After some hair-raising adventures on foot and on wheels his search ends in a tantalising failure. Perhaps there is another book here. If so I shall look forward to reading it and renewing acquaintance with the Great Khan.

Reviewed by Christopher Pickles, April 2004

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