Genghis, the Great Khan, is identified by theoretical mathematician Raghavendra Prasad as one whose DNA is present in almost 1% of the world’s male population, a statistic that demonstrates his influence on all of history.
Most of us know him as a brutal ruler, characterised by his three-tents method of raising a siege. He would pitch a white tent outside his foe’s city, implying that if they surrendered while that tent stood, nobody would perish if they yielded to him. Then, a red tent the next day indicated all their men would be put to the sword, but their women and children would live. A black tent, though, was a promise of no survivors. His message and method were brutal, yet effective.
More than a warrior, he established the ‘Yassa Code of Law,’ a set of rules under which his society was to grow, this being one way in which he was able to draw his conquered nations and his own people together, making the most of diversity, and the qualities of all, remarkably tolerant of other religions and cultures, in creating a model of unification for others to imitate. Few, though, have proven as successful.
He wanted all his achievements chronicled, was in awe of those who could read and write, and advocated his people’s Uighur language, raising his people from the darkness of illiteracy. In fact, he would ensure that astronomers, scholars, engineers, mathematicians, mapmakers, and even artists, among the defeated, were raised to prominence within his society. His ‘Pax Mongolica,’ or Mongol Peace, saw Asian and European learning thrive, advancing early science, technology, and navigation. He also revived the Silk Road, certain of the benefits to the civilisation of trade and commerce, and explored the possibility of common currencies and even paper money.
Meritocracy saw even those of low birth in his armies have opportunities to rise to leadership. In fact, Subutai became his most trusted general, despite being the son of a blacksmith, while Jebe was an enemy who had killed the Khan’s own horse in battle. Genghis also created social responsibility that ensured widows and orphans of his army were protected and supported for life if their husbands were to perish in service.
He abhorred toxic masculinity and was certainly inspired by women like his wife Borte, his most trusted adviser and strategist. Genghis Khan detested slavery, believing in fair reward for work and responsibility. Though many perished at his hands, he believed he was saving them from further indignity. In truth, it was pragmatism, so that he did not have to feed or guard those of no value among the vanquished.
His ‘Yam’ waypoints were established at a hard-riden day’s distance from each other all over Europe and Asia, wherever his army conquered, and were the model for the later ‘Pony Express,’ of the American ‘Wild West.’ Each waypoint would have fresh riders, horses, and hot food, and riders, having ridden up to 200 miles in a day, would hand over their communication to a new, fresh horse and rider who would ensure the pace was maintained. These riders would carry golden tablets, identifying them as extremely important, and these were to become the forerunners of the passports we all use in travel between nations today. Genghis also pioneered ‘diplomatic’ passports to identify his ‘representatives of rule’ to protect them, as few would be foolish enough to violate his protection.
Brutal? Yes, his three tents and the deaths he forced across his rule could never be seen otherwise. However, he recognised that laws, diversity, education, compassion, merit, and trade were as important as the sword. Maligned? Maybe, but also wise, and visionary. Whether his unique, and equally rare, wisdom is enough to save him from being thought a thug... Who knows?
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