Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
The name echoes through the history of Europe and Asia with a drumbeat of horse-hooves, accompanied by the screams of doomed townspeople. Incredibly, in a span of just 25 years, Genghis Khan's horsemen conquered a larger area and greater population than the Romans did in four centuries. To the millions of people his hordes conquered, Genghis Khan was evil incarnate. In Mongolia and across Central Asia today, though, the Great Khan's name is revered. Some Central Asians still name their sons "Chinguz," in hopes that these namesakes will grow up to conquer the world, as their thirteenth century hero did.
This alliance proved key, as Hoelun's Merkid clan decided to avenge her long-ago kidnapping by stealing Borje. With the Kereyid army, Temujin raided the Merkids, looting their camp and reclaiming Borje. Temujin also had help in the raid from his childhood blood-brother ("anda"), Jamuka, who would later become a rival. Borje's first son, Jochi, was born nine months later.
Consolidation of Power:
After rescuing Borje, Temujin's small band stayed with Jamuka's group for several years. Jamuka soon asserted his authority, rather than treating Temujin as an anda, and a two-decade-long feud developed between the nineteen-year-olds. Temujin then left the camp, along with many of Jamuka's followers and livestock. At the age of 27, Temujin held a kuriltai among the Mongols, who elected him khan. The Mongols were only a Kereyid sub-clan, however, and Ong Khan played Jamuka and Temujin off one another. As khan, Temujin awarded high office not just to his relatives, but to those followers who were most loyal to him.
Before the end of that year, the wrathful Khan had captured every Khwarizm city, adding lands from Turkey to Russia to his realm.
Genetic Legacy:
A 2003 DNA study revealed that about 16 million men in the former Mongol Empire, about eight per cent of the male population, carry a genetic marker that developed in one family in Mongolia about 1,000 years ago. The only likely explanation is that all of them are descended from Genghis Khan or his brothers.