Genghis Khan

In Our Time: History

BBC

History

4.4 • 3.2K Ratings

🗓️ 1 February 2007

⏱️ 28 minutes

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Summary

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Genghis Khan. Born Temujin in the 12th Century, he was cast out by his tribe when just a child and left to struggle for survival on the harsh Steppes of what is now Mongolia. From these beginnings he went on to become Genghis Khan, leader of the greatest continuous land-based empire the world has ever seen. His conquered territories stretched from the Caspian Sea to the borders of Manchuria, from the Siberian forest to what is now Afghanistan.He was a charismatic commander and a shrewd military tactician. He was swift to promote those who served him well, ignoring race or creed, but vengeful to those who crossed him, killing every inhabitant of resistant towns, even the cats and dogs. Generally regarded as barbarians by their enemies, the Mongol armies were in fact disciplined and effective.So how did Genghis create such an impressive fighting force? How did he draw together such diverse peoples to create a wealthy and successful Empire? And what was his legacy for the territories he conquered?With Peter Jackson, Professor of Medieval History at Keele University; Naomi Standen, Lecturer in Chinese History at Newcastle University;George Lane, Lecturer in History at the School of Oriental and African Studies

Transcript

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0:00.0	Thanks for downloading the in-artime podcast for more details about in-artime and for our terms of use
0:05.4	Please go to bbc.co.uk forward slash radio for I hope you enjoy the program
0:11.8	Hello today. We're talking about Genghis Khan born Tamujin around 1162
0:17.3	He was cast out by his tribe when he was just a child and left a struggle for survival on the harsh steps of what is now
0:23.6	Mongolia from these testing beginnings
0:26.1	He went on to become Genghis Khan leader of the greatest continuous land-based empire the world has ever seen
0:31.9	His conquered territories stretched from the Caspian Sea to the borders of Manchuria from the Siberian forest
0:37.4	Or is now Afghanistan
0:39.4	He was a charismatic commander and a magnificent military tactician
0:43.2	He was swift to promote those who served him well ignoring race or creed but vengeful to those who crossed him
0:49.4	Killing every inhabitant of one resistant town for example even the cats and dogs
0:54.4	Generally guarded as barbarians by their enemies the Mongol army is where in fact disciplined and very effective
1:00.5	So how did Genghis creates us in impressive fighting force?
1:03.5	How did he draw together such diverse peoples for greater wealthy and successful empire and what was his legacy for the territories?
1:10.4	He conquered joining me to discuss Genghis or as now it is pronounced by scholars
1:15.4	Changes Khan his name is standard lecture in Chinese history at Newcastle University
1:19.8	George Lane lecture in history at the School of Oriental and African Studies
1:23.4	Peter Jackson professor of medieval history at Keel University
1:27.6	Peter Jackson, what do we know about his early life and upbringing?
1:30.6	Can you give us some picture of his life as a boy as a nomad on the steps?
1:35.7	We're not actually told a great deal about his early life in the sources
1:41.6	The sources agree that he was born holding a clot of blood in his hand
	...

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