Mt. Mongol Erupts
The author quotes India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his metaphorical description of how the Eurasian world reacted to the sudden arrival of Mongol hordes:
“It almost seemed like a great natural calamity, like an earthquake, before which man can do little.”
Running with the Devil
One of the first descriptions of Genghis Khan in the historical record arrives courtesy of Persian historian Minhaj Juzjani who noted that in addition to being tall and vigorous and intrepid and cruel, he also
“was adept at magic and deception and, and some of the devils were his friends.”
Leaders Know When to Swallow Their Pride
Genghis Khan had his own version of the proverbial advice about not letting pride get in the way lest it causes you to fall:
“Even the highest mountain had animals that step on it.”
Famous Last Words
The Jurchens who controlled what is now Manchuria had no fear of Genghis Khan. In fact, a leader is recorded as directly questioning why they should fear him when, after all:
“Our empire is like the sea; yours is but a handful of sand.”
Jurchen control of that empire ended in 1234 at the hands of the Mongols looking for more sand.
What do You Want to Do Today, Khan?
Until the successful invasion and takeover of the Jurchen empire, Genghis Khan was an invader only as conditions required. The war against the Jurchens was just the next logical progression after his previous successes. Following victory over the Jurchens, however, everything changed and suddenly Khan became a man with a plan: try to take over the world. Unwittingly, with that decision to cross the Gobi with the Jurchens next on his agenda, Khan had
“lit a conflagration that would eventually consume the world.”
