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Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World  By  cover art

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World

By: Jack Weatherford
Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Jack Weatherford
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Publisher's summary

The Mongol army led by Genghis Khan subjugated more lands and people in 25 years than the Romans did in 400. In nearly every country the Mongols conquered, they brought an unprecedented rise in cultural communication, expanded trade, and a blossoming of civilization.

Vastly more progressive than his European or Asian counterparts, Genghis Khan abolished torture, granted universal religious freedom, and smashed feudal systems of aristocratic privilege. From the story of his rise through the tribal culture to the explosion of civilization that the Mongol Empire unleashed, this brilliant work of revisionist history is nothing less than the epic story of how the modern world was made.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2005 Jack Weatherford (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"With appreciative descriptions of the sometimes tender tyrant, this chronicle supplies just enough personal and world history to satisfy any reader." ( Publishers Weekly)
"There is very little time for reading in my new job. But of the few books I've read, my favourite is Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford. It's a fascinating book portraying Genghis Khan in a totally new light. It shows that he was a great secular leader, among other things." (Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India)
"Weatherford's admiration for Genghis and his firsthand knowledge of many of the sites important in Mongol history give this text an immediacy and a visual quality that are enhanced by Davis’s presentation. When the narrative begins to lag in its final hour or two as it moves farther from the twelfth century, Davis's crisp pace maintains the listener’s interest to the end. An informative and provocative work of popular history." ( AudioFile)

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The best biographies are ranked not only by the scale and skill of their writing, but also by the strength of their subjects. In the audiobook world, these selections are also judged for the quality of their narrative performances, making those that rise to the top all the more excellent. From lighthearted entertainment to inspirational origin stories, these titles represent the best biography audiobooks now ready for your listening pleasure.

Editor's Pick

Even if you don’t pick up this title, please say ‘JENG-iss.’
"As an anthropologist studying and teaching in Mongolia for decades, Jack Weatherford collected stories: the facts of Genghis Khan’s life (few, but significant), his legacy (huge), and the intimacy and specialness of Mongolian culture that changed and spread across the world under his aegis. Jonathan Davis’s stellar narration of every novelistic detail guarantees that this audio is the BEST. HISTORY. EVER."
Christina H., Audible Editor

What listeners say about Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World

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Fascinating history well told and read!

This was such an interesting history of Genghis Khan and the Mongol people - what they were really like! And the reader was very good!

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Blown away and awakened

I was expecting to read a tale of another blood thirsty, tyrannical conqueror and the horrors he did while amassing a large empire, but was instead impressed and utterly shocked at the true history that had been largely distorted. Not only the Mongolian people but Asia as a whole, turned from evolved and progressive nations into dirty, backwards heathens. I highly recommend everyone this book as the research and the description in the epilogue alone are worth the purchase. The author was thorough and has dedicated so much of his life to this research that no one else has access to. Mind. Blown.

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fascinating

Well worth your time. intriguing look at the Mongol people, culture, history and influence through the ages.

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fantastic 👍

the narrator was great the appendix guy not so much that is why I didn't give 5 star to the performance. one of the most interesting book I ever listened to

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Spectacular work

Superb research, very interesting narrative, and great performance. I was impressed by how much there was to tell about Genghis Khan and his empire. I could not put this down. This is an audiobook I’ll soon come back to and listen again.

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Educational and Enlightening

A most interesting and intriguing historical recount of the a truly great man! High recommended this rendition of a great book! A must be told story to all who wishes to know a truth!

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Discovering a history that's largely misunderstood

This book provided me with new insight and understanding of history I had no clear understanding of. it help connect many other parts of world history and cleared the stereotypes many have today. This book is a great performance, with narration and story telling for any history enthusiasts or curious seeker.

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Extraordinary book!

This book covers a tremendous amount of information about Genghis Khan, the greatest conquer of all time, as well as the impacts that he had left behind to this world. This book is equally informative and fun to follow. And the narrator deserves a 10/10 rating! Highly recommended

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Fantastic and surprising!

I can't believe I hadn't heard before of these things about the Mongol Empire. Way ahead of their time and with such an impact on today's world.

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Amazingly informative and well researched

I'm going to start by saying that I was given a western/American education growing up, and had thusly only very briefly covered the Mongol Empire and Genghis Khan. During my education I had only heard the negatives and dark legends of Genghis and his empire and so effectively had a very negative opinion on this man and his legacy. This book has shattered the things I learned as a youth, and enlightened me to an entirely new world view and opinion of Genghis Khan. Now I see and understand why he is such a venerated person to people in the eastern world. And honestly, my views on the man are not now just of respect, but if understanding and veneration as well. The man changed history in more ways than he could have ever imagined, did things that no other person in history achieved and may never achieve again.
May his spirit rest well and his memory never fade from the hearts of men.

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