Episode 17 The Rise of Genghis Khan
1215: Years That Changed History
Dr Dorsey Armstrong (2019)
Film Review
The Mongols’ special form of warfare (mounting archers on horseback) enabled them to move one hundred thousand warriors across 2000 miles of virtually impassable terrain (deserts, barren grasslands and steep mountains). According to Armstrong, Genghis Khan and his descendants captured more territory in 25 years than the Romans did in 400.
Named Tamugen at birth, he had a remarkable mother (Hoelun) who, following the murder of her husband Yesugei, was abandoned by her clan, along with Yesugei’s first wife and seven children. According to the Secret History of the Mongols,* Hoelun kept all nine of them alive by fishing and hunting. As a teenager, Tamugen killed his eldest half brother Bekhter for trying to hog (as the firstborn) the family’s meager food stores. As punishment for the murder a nearby tribe took Tamugen prisoner and forced him to wear a yoke until sympathetic farmer helped him escape.
After Tamugen married he, in turn, avenged himself against the clan which had abandoned his mother.
As a teenager, he and his “blood brother”** from a neighboring clan ruled both groups jointly until Januka’s clan quarreled and split apart from Tamugen’s. They subsequently raided each other’s tribes for foodstuffs, weapons and luxuries.
As Tamugen and Januka consolidated separate warring clans under their rule, the former rejected traditional clan hierarchies and singled out low caste families for special allotments of land, animals and food. After cementing their loyalty in this way, he frequently called on them to serve as warriors and tax collectors. In 1204, Tamugen captured Januka in battle, and according to the Secret History (at Janika’s request) granted him a humane execution.
Following Janaku’s death, Tamugen controlled all the Central Asian steppes from the Arctic Tundra to the Gobi Desert. In 1206, he called a kuritai (assembly). After four days of deliberation, they appointed him sole leader of this newly formed confederation of Mongol tribes and granted him the name Genghis Khan (universal ruler).
*See 1215 and The Rise of the Mongol Empire
**They became blood brothers by drinking each other’s blood.
Film can be viewed free with a library card on Kanpy.
The Most Revolutionary Act 
I’ve heard about Genghis Khan all my life but knew little about him. This whets my appetite for more knowledge about this historic figure, the times in which he lived, and the cultures that spawned his incredible accomplishments.
LikeLike
This lecturer greatly admires Genghis Khan because he overturned traditional clan hierarchies and greatly elevated the status of Mongol women (which she addresses in a later lecture).
LikeLike