To: muir_redwoods
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.
74 posted on
10/03/2006 2:47:42 PM PDT by
PzLdr
("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
To: PzLdr
Your "statesman" killed thousands and thousands of innocent people for self-agrandizement and empire building. All else is window dressing.
Thug on a horse, one of many throughout history
77 posted on
10/03/2006 6:30:43 PM PDT by
muir_redwoods
(Free Sirhan Sirhan, after all, the bastard who killed Mary Jo Kopechne is walking around free)
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