Genghis Khan and the Quest for God

A landmark biography of one of history's most effective conquerors by The New York Times bestselling author of Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World that reveals how he harnessed the power of religion to rule the largest empire the world has ever known
Throughout history the world's greatest conquerors have made their mark not just on the battlefield, but also in the societies they have transformed. Genghis Khan conquered by arms and bravery, but he ruled by commerce and religion. He transformed the silk road into the world's most effective trading network, established new laws, and drastically lowered taxes for merchants. But he knew that if his empire was going to last, he would need something stronger and more binding than trade. He needed religion. And so, unlike the Christian, Taoist, and Muslim conquerors who had come before him, he gave his subjects freedom of religion using an argument that would directly influence Thomas...