Genghis Khan

Two decades after its initial publication, Paul Ratchnevsky’s book on Genghis Khan remains the standard biography on the subject. Its superiority is based not only on Ratchnevsky’s command of the primary sources but also on his critical evaluations of these accounts. Ratchnevsky draws upon Mongol, Chinese, Persian, and European sources in order to establish a reliable and factual account of the life of one of the greatest conquerors in world history. Now updated in a second edition by Morris Rossabi, the biography takes into account the latest work on Genghis Khan and his legacies. In particular, an extensive new introduction examines the archaeological and literary evidence that has come to light since the book was first published. Rossabi demonstrates how the Mongolians, the Russians, the Manchus, the Chinese, and even Westerners have attempted to use the Great Khan for their own political ends; and shows why, almost eight centuries after his death, Genghis retains his hold on the public imagination.

Author Biography

Paul Ratchnevsky was Emeritus Professor of Sinology at Humboldt University in Berlin, and best known for his three-volume work Un Code des Yuan. Thomas Nivison Haining CMG served for over 30 years in the diplomatic service, including as Ambassador to Mongolia. He is currently an honorary Research Associate in History at the University of Aberdeen.