Genghis Khan: Difference between revisions

[[File:Genghis_Khan_2_4522Genghis Khan.jpg|frame]]

Want to know why you [[The Princess Bride (film)|never fight a land war in Asia]]? '''Genghis Khan''' is why ("Chingis" is probably a closer pronunciation of his name, but generations of Western cultures have pronounced it "Genghis", so "toe-may-tow/toe-mah-tow").

Undoubtedly the greatest conqueror who ever lived, this guy did the impossible: he united the [[Mongolia|Mongols]]. And, after accomplishing that, took the rest of Asia and made it look easy. China? Conquered. Korea? Conquered (somewhat<ref>In Korea it is taught that after many consistent invasions and after fighting back and surviving their attacks, the Koreans grew tired of them, giving some of their land to them and then forming an "alliance". Though partially debatable, [[wikipedia:Mongol invasion of Korea|it's true that the Koreans survived their attack]] [[Serial Escalation|5five times]] and after the 6thsixth they were "allies" with them.</ref>). Afghanistan? Conquered. Japan? Would've happened if not for [[Deus Ex Machina|two freak typhoons]]<ref>The bulk of the army that attacked Japan consisted of Koreans under a Mongolian flag (who says being allies doesn't have its benefits?). However, that could also mean that the Mongolians didn't fail in their invasion of Japan, but Korea did. [[Depending on the Writer|It all depends on which historical text you're reading]].</ref>. Russia? Conquered. Iran... it was more ''wiped out'' than conquered. Choresm? Oh, you never heard of [[w:Khwarazmian Empire|that countryempire]]? [[Appeal to Obscurity|Exactly]].

Mentioned more in Asian stories and culture than in the West, [[Alternative Character Interpretation|he is either shown as]] a tolerant and just ruler who helped bring order in a chaotic period, or as a [[Barbarian Tribe|ruthless barbarian who slaughtered people for its own gain]]. The truth is a mixture of the two. He was a revolutionary conqueror in Asia for the time in that he allowed almost total freedom of religion, did not impose on the cultures of the defeated, and established a vast and effective trade and postal network that hugely benefited the Asian nations. On the other hand, [[Ax Crazy|he was absolutely ruthless]] to anyone who dared to resist his [[The Horde|Mongol hordes]]. He was not above biological warfare or using living prisoners as [[Human Shield|human shields]]. Plus, they would often [[Shoot the Dog|massacre people who resisted]]. The Iranian plateau lost three-quarters of its population and didn't recover until the mid-20th century. Entire cities were leveled to the ground as examples; to this day, some areas in Central Asia are disproportionately populated compared to their surroundings thanks to these ''13th century'' tactics. To put this in scale, after his death, his grandson led The Horde into Baghdad. At the time, Baghdad was a jewel of world civilization since it was the center of commerce and learning for centuries (for example: Take the Library of Congress, cross it with every prestigious school in the world, steal every major artwork and architectural achievement ever constructed by mankind and dump in in ONE''one SPOTspot'', then fill it with the population and commercial power of New York City, and THEN''then'' you're getting somewhere). To get a sense of the destruction wrought, read that description again and then think of Baghdad and the surrounding region of today...[[Nightmare Fuel|Yeah, they're STILL''still'' recovering from a siege that occurred the better part of a millennium ago thanks to Genghis' supreme military]].