World Leaders: Genghis Khan

Top: Genghis Khan. Below: Map showing the boundary of 13th century Mongol Empire compared to today's Mongolia,

Russia, the Central Asian States and China. Photo: http://craighillnet.files.wordpress.com

Synopsis: Genghis Khan was born in Mongolia in Asia around 1162. At 20, he began

building a large army. His goal was to destroy tribes in northeast Asia. He wanted to unite

the tribes under his rule. His Mongol Empire grew very large. Genghis Khan died in 1227.

His descendants kept the empire going for another 150 years.

Early Life

Genghis Kahn was born in Mongolia around 1162. He was originally named Temujin.

When Temujin was 9, his father, Yesukhei, was killed. On a trip, Yesukhei had been invited

to a meal by the enemy Tatar tribe. He was poisoned at the meal.

Temujin returned home after Yesukhei's death. He tried to claim the title of clan chief. A

clan is a large group of family members. The clan refused to accept the young boy as

leader. Temujin later killed his half-brother in an argument. The killing made it clear that he

was head of the family.

At 16, Temujin married a woman named Borte. He had four sons with Borte. He also had

many children with other wives.

By Biography.com Editors and A+E Networks, adapted by Newsela staff on 08.03.16

Word Count 599

The "Universal Ruler"

When Temujin was about 20, he was captured by the Taichi'ut people. He was lucky to

escape. Later, he joined his brothers to form a fighting group. Temujin built a large army of

more than 20,000 men. He decided to unite the Mongols as their ruler.

Temujin wiped out the Tatar army. He ordered the killing of every Tatar male who was more

than 3 feet tall. Temujin's Mongols then defeated the Taichi'ut. He had all of the Taichi'ut

chiefs killed. By 1206, Temujin had also defeated the powerful Naiman tribe. The victory

gave him control of central and eastern Mongolia.

Genghis Khan was a smart military planner. He also had many spies. He quickly used new

technology from his enemies in his own army.

The Mongol army had an excellent signaling system. They signaled with smoke, torches,

drums and flags. The Mongols could also control a horse using only their legs. This left

their hands free to shoot arrows.

Other leaders agreed to peace with the Mongols. They called Temujin "Genghis Khan." It

meant "universal ruler."

Major Conquests

In 1207, Genghis Kahn led his armies against the kingdom of Xi Xia. The kingdom

surrendered after two years. In 1211, Genghis Khan's armies attacked the Jin dynasty in

northern China.

The fight against the Jin lasted nearly 20 years. Meanwhile, Genghis Khan's armies also

fought in the west against Muslims. Genghis Khan first tried to trade with the Muslim

Khwarizm dynasty. The Mongols were attacked, though. Genghis Khan demanded that the

attacking governor be given to him. He sent an official to get him. Shah Muhammad, the

Khwarizm leader, refused. He killed the Mongol official.

This made Genghis Khan angry. In 1219, Genghis Khan led an attack against the

Khwarizm. The Mongols killed everybody in the Khwarizm cities. Eventually, Shah

Muhammad was captured and killed. So was his son.

Scholars call the period that followed "Mongolian Peace." In time, Genghis Khan's victories

connected the big trading areas in China and Europe.

After destroying the Khwarizm dynasty, Genghis Khan again focused east on China. The

Tangut people there were disobeying him. Genghis Khan defeated enemy armies and

destroyed the capital of Ning Hia. Tangut officials surrendered, and Genghis Khan ordered

the execution of the ruling family.

Genghis Khan's Death

Genghis Khan died in 1227 of unknown causes.

Before his death, Genghis Khan made his son Ogedei leader. The empire grew under

Ogedei. Mongol armies eventually invaded Persia, southern China, and the Balkans. They

even reached Vienna, Austria.

Quiz

1 What is the MAIN idea of the section "Major Conquests"?

(A) Genghis Khan's battles lasted for a long time, sometimes as long as 20

years.

(B) Genghis Khan was the first to try to trade with the Muslim Khwarizm dynasty.

(C) Genghis Khan defeated many armies throughout Asia, uniting the Mongols.

(D) Genghis Khan was cruel to the people he conquered, and ordered the death

of the ruling Tangut family.

2 Which sentence from the biography is MOST important to include in its summary?

(A) When Temujin was about 20, he was captured by the Taichi'ut people.

(B) He also had many children with other wives.

(C) He decided to unite the Mongols as their ruler.

(D) The Tangut people there were disobeying him.

3 What is the main reason why Genghis Khan was not originally accepted as leader of his clan?

(A) His tribe did not respect him because of his age.

(B) His tribe did not respect him because he had killed his brother.

(C) His tribe felt that he had been responsible for his father's death.

(D) His tribe felt that he should not have married his wife.

4 Which section of the biography explains HOW Genghis Khan's armies defeated other clans?

(A) Early Life

(B) The "Universal Ruler"

(C) Major Conquests

(D) Genghis Khan's Death

Answer Key

1 What is the MAIN idea of the section "Major Conquests"?

(A) Genghis Khan's battles lasted for a long time, sometimes as long as 20

years.

(B) Genghis Khan was the first to try to trade with the Muslim Khwarizm dynasty.

(C) Genghis Khan defeated many armies throughout Asia, uniting the

Mongols.

(D) Genghis Khan was cruel to the people he conquered, and ordered the death

of the ruling Tangut family.

2 Which sentence from the biography is MOST important to include in its summary?

(A) When Temujin was about 20, he was captured by the Taichi'ut people.

(B) He also had many children with other wives.

(C) He decided to unite the Mongols as their ruler.

(D) The Tangut people there were disobeying him.

3 What is the main reason why Genghis Khan was not originally accepted as leader of his clan?

(A) His tribe did not respect him because of his age.

(B) His tribe did not respect him because he had killed his brother.

(C) His tribe felt that he had been responsible for his father's death.

(D) His tribe felt that he should not have married his wife.

4 Which section of the biography explains HOW Genghis Khan's armies defeated other clans?

(A) Early Life

(B) The "Universal Ruler"

(C) Major Conquests

(D) Genghis Khan's Death