This episode contains depictions of violence and discusses sexual assault.

Listener discretion is advised.

On the plains of the Mongolian step, a falcon circles high above the head of a young boy on horseback.

Swooping down, it comes to rest on his gloved arm, its black, unblinking eye observing the child.

Temogen is the son of a lowly tribesman, but even at five years old, he's already showing signs

of being exceptional.

He's clever, a skilled rider, and a wily hunter.

These talents will eventually take him from the felt tense of his nomadic village into the annals

of history.

The boy would become a man who shaped the world through insight, determination and unprecedented

ferocity.

Hello and welcome to this brand new series of Legacy.

That little boy, Temujin, out with his falcon, he became known by another name,

Chingis Khan. In this series, we are exploring the life of one of the bloodiest rulers ever,

and a man who changed the course of history.

Chingis Khan seems to have come from nowhere to have created one of the largest empires that the world has ever

seen. And in the process, it's claimed that he oversaw the deaths of millions upon millions of

people. But is there more to the man that we often write off as a monster? He also gave religious

freedom to millions, brought peace to millions, and despite being illiterate himself,

he promoted scholarship and the rule of law. Chingers-Khan, as we'll see, embodies more than just

a single headline about brutality and bloodshed. And what can we learn about today's leaders

from his monumental example?

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