Who Was the Greatest Conqueror of All Time?
- John E. Shanahan, NY, selected Genghis Khan
I have chosen a non-Westerner, Genghis Khan, as the greatest conqueror in human history. Uniting the tribes of bickering sheep herders from the sparse plains of Mongolia, joined by Tartars and Turkish warriors and a multitude of religions, Genghis Khan and his hardy mounted archers shook the world. His armies crushed and subjugated the powerful northern kingdoms of China, smashed into Southeast Asia, destroyed the Persian Empire, sliced through Central Asia, the Middle East and Russian, and slaughtered the finest knights of Europe. In the space of one lifetime, Genghis Khan carved out the largest land empire ever conquered, four times larger than the empire of Alexander the Great.
Subscribe Today
Fear and wholesale butchery of resisting urban populations was a proven Mongol tactic. Leaving no potential rebel or mutinous attacker behind alive was paramount. It has been estimated that over 40 million souls were destroyed by this man and his horde. However, those who submitted were spared and ruled leniently. Genghis Khan and his hardy warriors on their rugged ponies were different than other barbarian invaders because they were excellent at sieges and had exemplary engineers for river crossings. These disciplined Mongol armies preferred to fight in the winter, when they could use the frozen lakes and rivers as highways through the lands they destroyed or subjugated.
Some of the long term consequences of Mongol conquest were the unification of large regions in Russia and China. Russian rulers were able to gain prominence and later break away to form their own empire when they were accorded the status of "tax collector" for the Mongol empire. Genghis Khan’s tight discipline in both military and government made his empire extremely safe. This safety and high road maintenance encouraged trade, cultural exchange and extensive knowledge transfer between east and west along the "Silk Road." Even the Black Death may have traveled along this trade route. A highly successful postal service was created because this route was so protected. One out of every 200 people in Eurasia are of Mongol descent, Persia became Iran and the origins of the Ottoman Empire were results of this greatest of conquerors.
Do you agree? Discuss the great conquerors of history in our discussion forum!
Wow! I really enjoyed reading this article on Hannibal. Thanks for the time and research!
I like all the articles except the one on Hannibal. What Hannibal does not have in common with those other four positions was that Hannibal did not defeat his greatest enemies. Although in Italy for 15 years, he was stuck there and despite his three greatest victories over Rome, the Romans were still fighting. Hannibal didn’t win his war. Napoleon, on the other hand, fought many wars and constantly forced his rivalries to admit defeat. This is about the greatest conquerors and Hannibal did not conquer.