Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World - Book Report/Review Example

The anthropological account is apparent due to the depiction of the culture, and lifestyle of the different civilizations that were formed under the rule of the Mongolian leader. While Genghis Khan has been portrayed in a negative light and image in most of the western literature present today, the author tries to depict the Mongolian Leader in a positive light, highlighting the benefits of his rule which turned out to be significant advantages for the subcontinent in the following years. The book discusses the life and the legacy of the Mongol king Genghis Khan.

The early life of the Mongol leader was significantly different and helped in shaping his personality and his later life. The information that is available about the early life of Genghis Khan is few and fare between in the world literature but Weatherford through collection of accounts form his journeys to the subcontinent and modern china highlights that Genghis Khan was born in 1162. The year of his birth is not confirmed as some literatures cite it to be as early as 1155 and as late as 1165 as well.

The name that was given to Genghis Khan was that of Temujin. Genghis Khan was born to a tribal chief or the Borijin tribe which had origins in nomadic Mongolian culture. The tribe was known for being hunters who lived a nomadic life instead of settling down and establishing a farm or herding business. At the time of birth, Genghis Khan's father noticed a blood clot in his hand, which according to traditional Chinese culture meant the sign of the great warrior. "Khan grew up in a world of excessive tribal violence, including murder, kidnapping and enslavement" (Weatherford, xvi)At the early age of nine, Temujin was taught by his father to lead the life of a nomadic hunter.

He was taught by his father to work for a living. After Genghis Khan spent the fist few years of his childhood learning and working in the neighbouring clans and tribes, he found his a suitable match for himself as a wife in Borje. However on his return Journey with his father, Yesukkei was killed by the rival hunters of the clans. The death of his father forced the young Genghis Khan to return to his other parent, his mother. However after the death of the tribe leader, others in the tribe who wanted to assume the power and the title which came with being the tribal leader disowned Genghis Khan, his siblings and his two mothers.

The family of Yesukhei as a result was forced to fend for them after being evicted form the clean following his death. In this time of hardships, the family along with Genghis Khan learn to survive on food supplements of roots, rodents, rats, and fish. They had the fare that they could salvage pr hunt for themselves. As a result Genghis Khan and his family was not new to struggle and hardships in the later years. During his development and growth into a man, Genghis Khan and his full brother Khasar developed hatred towards his oldest step brother Begter.

In the following year, they both killed him in order to punish him for siding with the tribal leaders who evicted the family out of their tribe. However after the incidents, the young Genghis Khan was captured as a slave, a position to which he was resigned to be in the following five years of his life. After the term spent by the young Genghis Khan, he again set out to Borje again who was still waiting for him. In the ensuing years, they