Another Letter to Genghis Khan

Dear Genghis Khan,
I have recently heard about your problem in splitting up your empire between your sons. In response to this, I have the following suggestions:

• First off, I think that you should divide up your empire between your loyal followers, not your sons. Your generals and administrators that have served you loyally for over 40 years should get the majority of your empire. They are much better suited for the administration of your vast empire than your snotty sons. Your sons will only squabble over land and especially your oldest, Jochi and Chaghatai, will fight amongst each other until your empire is left in ruin and both of them are dead. You have spent your life abolishing the old way of Noble privileges and establishing a system of merit. This system should also be used in the division of your empire.
• I also believe, that instead of trying to train your sons everything you know quickly before you die, is not a good solution. Your sons have already proven that they can not learn quickly, and will disobey you when you are not there to watch over them. Instead you should spend your breath and effort training soldiers with good qualities that have already proven themselves worthy of your wisdom and your empire.
• I also believe you should put your chosen rulers into ruling groups of three. These three men should be put together based on compatibility and should prove that they can work together well. The reason for the three rulers is so that the multiple tasks of being a ruler can be spread between them and so that each can do the jobs that they are best at. For instance you could put together; a well experienced military man to handle the various military tasks of maintaining and expanding the empire, an administrative man to handle the various law, tax and record keeping, and a third diplomatic man to handle various diplomatic missions and to keep peace and relations with other nations.

For the preservation of your empire, I urge you, Genghis Khan, to use these tips for the division of your empire; and I wish you luck for the daunting decision that lies ahead.

A "Letter to Genghis Khan"

Dear Genghis Khan,
The Secret History of the Mongols said "There is fire in his eyes and light in his face", did you believe you were destined to become someone great, or did you only wish for the simple hunting and herding life you were born into? It is interesting to think that every event in your childhood would change world history. Your love for Borte, you killing your older half brother, and your deep friendship with your blood brother Jamuka all would have a profound impact on millions of lives across much of the world. Even though your older half brother was making your life miserable, was it really necessary to kill him? He was very brave, not to run or try to defend himself when he knew his fate, and then to leave him on the ground to die alone, his blood spilling on the ground a great disgrace in Mongol culture. In this book about you, it says "Temujin [Genghis Khan's birth name] had determined he would lead, not follow... he proved himself willing to violate custom, defy his mother, and kill whoever blocked his path, even if it was his own family member" (Weatherford 25). In your life you often violated or ignored many cultural customs and practices that often made you many enemies. The revolutionary change, of not allowing privileges for aristocrats, shattered every tradition in your own culture, and in other cultures that you conquered. While it was a great improvement for many lower class people, who could now move up and succeed based on merit and skill, it did earn you a lot of enemies. All of the aristocrats turned against you and banned together to destroy you and your followers. And finally I want you to know that while your image and the image of your people were diminished to that of blood thirsty barbarians, the world is beginning to take another look at your great accomplishments and the massive truth about your life and empire are coming out in the open once again.

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford

For the outside reading and blogging, I am reading Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford. This is book is a historical biography of Genghis Khan with some Mongolian history thrown in. I got this book for Christmas and I have been wanting to read it but haven't gotten a chance. I also figured if I make myself read it for school it will be required and I will have a better incentive to start it. I read the introduction already and I think I'm really going to like it. Ever since we studied the Mongolian Steppe Empires in AP World History, I have found this time period in history and this ethnic group fascinating. It is an amazing accomplishment for a small band of steppe people to unite under one of histories' greatest charismatic and innovative leaders (Genghis Khan) and then form a strong, complex society with unheard of principles like merit based system and no privileges for aristocrats, and then on top off all that conquer much of the known world and become the carriers of culture, innovation and trade goods. This book is the story of "The startling true history of how one extraordinary man from a remote corner of the world created an empire that led the world into the modern age" and that's why I'm reading it.