[muir_redwoods]

He was a murderous thug on a horse, little better than a Blood or a Crip.

[PzLdr]

He practiced religious toleration in his Empire when Europe and Islam did not. He never broke his word to an ally. He introduced the first pony express system [the YAM], that allowed messages to traverse the Mongol Empire from the Pacific the the Danube in something like 90 days. He created the first modern, professional army since Rome's. Oh yeah, he and his sons and grandsons created the largest Empire in history

The Mongols fostered technology, and adapted the technologies of their subject peoples. They were one of the first governments of their time to use, recognize, and hold inviolate, ambassadors. They fostered international trade with Europe.

Chingghis Quan was much more than "a murderous thug on a horse". If you want one of those, try Richard the Lionhearted, any of the Crusaders who stormed Jerusalem or Byzantium, any Muslim warlord or Tamerlane. "[L]ittle better than a Blood or Crip"? I don't think so. History doesn't either.