Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan was the founder of the Mongol Empire. He was born around 1162 on the plains of Mongolia. He united warring Mongol tribes into one powerful nation. He built the largest connected land empire in history.

Early Life

Genghis Khan was born with the name Temujin. He had a very hard childhood. His father was poisoned when Temujin was young. He had to fight to survive and slowly gained followers through his courage and leadership.

An old silk painting of the famous leader Genghis Khan.
An old silk painting of the famous leader Genghis Khan. (Unknown authorUnknown author / Wikimedia Commons)

Big Achievements

Temujin united all the Mongol tribes and took the name Genghis Khan, meaning universal ruler. His armies conquered China, Persia, and parts of Europe. His empire stretched from the Pacific Ocean to Eastern Europe. He created a postal system and promoted trade along the Silk Road.

Fun Facts

  • Genghis Khan created one of the first international postal systems.
  • He promoted religious freedom throughout his empire.
  • Scientists believe about 16 million men alive today are his descendants.

Did You Know?

The Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan and his descendants covered about 24 million square kilometers. That is about 16 percent of Earth's total land area. It was the largest connected land empire in all of history.