World Leaders: Genghis Khan -...
Transcript of World Leaders: Genghis Khan -...
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