The Conquests of Genghis Khan

Alison Behnke

Jan 2008 · Twenty-First Century Books

About this ebook

Can one man really change the world? If that man is Genghis Khan, the answer is yes. Born around 1161, Temujin, as he was named, grew up in humble surroundings. As a teenager, he fled from enemy raiders, but he became a fearless—and feared—man who commanded an army of thousands and an empire of millions. In fact, by the mid-1200s Genghis Khan’s Mongol Empire included much of the known world. Though he was responsible for the deaths of millions, he also showed tolerance for religious and cultural differences among the many peoples he conquered, and he brought stability and unification to a vast area where it had never before existed. Even today, the name Genghis Khan continues to instill fear in some and admiration in others. His election as Great Khan in approximately 1190 is surely one of history’s most pivotal moments.

About the author

Born in Rochester, Minnesota, Alison Behnke had the good fortune to live in Rome, Italy, for three years while in grade school. Not only did this move expand her horizons enormously and introduce her to one of the world’s best and most beautiful cities, but it provided her with a wealth of writing material. Even before her Roman holiday, however, Alison knew that she wanted to be an author—a desire which, according to her parents, she first voiced around age six. Good teachers, avid reading, and a children's librarian for a mother all fed the fire. Alison went on to take a degree in English with a focus on Creative Writing, and at present count she has written more than thirty books. Alison lives in Minneapolis, and when she's neither reading nor writing, she spends her time on pursuits including photography, travel, and striving to make the perfect espresso.