Genghis Khan and the Quest for God : How the World's Greatest Conqueror Gave Us Religious Freedom

**A landmark biography of one of history's most effective conquerors by __The__ __New York Times__ bestselling author of __Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World__ that reveals how he harnessed the power of religion to rule the largest empire the world has ever known** Throughout history the world's greatest conquerors have made their mark not just on the battlefield, but also in the societies they have transformed. Genghis Khan conquered by arms and bravery, but he ruled by commerce and religion. He transformed the silk road into the world's most effective trading network, established new laws, and drastically lowered taxes for merchants. But he knew that if his empire was going to last, he would need something stronger and more binding than trade. He needed religion. And so, unlike the Christian, Taoist, and Muslim conquerors who had come before him, he gave his subjects freedom of religion using an argument that would directly influence Thomas... A landmark biography by the New York Times bestselling author of Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World that reveals how Genghis harnessed the power of religion to rule the largest empire the world has ever known. Throughout history the world's greatest conquerors have made their mark not just on the battlefield, but in the societies they have transformed. Genghis Khan conquered by arms and bravery, but he ruled by commerce and religion. He created the world's greatest trading network and drastically lowered taxes for merchants, but he knew that if his empire was going to last, he would need something stronger and more binding than trade. He needed religion. And so, unlike the Christian, Taoist and Muslim conquerors who came before him, he gave his subjects freedom of religion. Genghis lived in the 13th century, but he struggled with many of the same problems we face today: How should one balance religious freedom with the need to reign in fanatics' Can one compel rival religions - driven by deep seated hatred-to live together in peace' A celebrated anthropologist whose bestselling Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World radically transformed our understanding of the Mongols and their legacy, Jack Weatherford has spent eighteen years exploring areas of Mongolia closed until the fall of the Soviet Union and researching The Secret History of the Mongols, an astonishing document written in code that was only recently discovered. He pored through archives and found groundbreaking evidence of Genghis's influence on the founding fathers and his essential impact on Thomas Jefferson. Genghis Khan and the Quest for God is a masterpiece of erudition and insight, his most personal and resonant work. From the Hardcover edition "Throughout history the world's greatest conquerors have made their mark not just on the battlefield, but in the societies they have transformed. Genghis Khan conquered by arms and bravery, but he ruled by commerce and religion. He created the world's greatest trading network and drastically lowered taxes for merchants, but he knew that if his empire was going to last, he would need something stronger and more binding than trade. He needed religion. And so, unlike the Christian, Taoist and Muslim conquerors who came before him, he gave his subjects freedom of religion. Genghis lived in the 13th century, but he struggled with many of the same problems we face today: How should one balance religious freedom with the need to reign in fanatics? Can one compel rival religions--driven by deep seated hatred--to live together in peace? A celebrated anthropologist whose bestselling Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World radically transformed our understanding of the Mongols and their legacy, Jack Weatherford has spent eighteen years exploring areas of Mongolia closed until the fall of the Soviet Union and researching The Secret History of the Mongols, an astonishing document written in code that was only recently discovered. He pored through archives and found groundbreaking evidence of Genghis's influence on the founding fathers and his essential impact on Thomas Jefferson. As hard as it is to believe, we owe our doctine of religious freedom in part to a distant nomad who forged the world's greatest empire in a trail of blood."--Jacket Thru history the worlds great conquerors have made their mark not just on the battlefield, but also in the societies they've transformed. Genghis Khan conquered by arms & bravery. He ruled by commerce & religion. He transformed the silk road into the worlds most effective trading network, established new laws & drastically lowered merchant taxes. But he knew that if his empire was going to last, he'd need something stronger & more binding than trade. He needed religion. Unlike the Christian, Taoist & Muslim conquerors who'd come before, he gave his subjects freedom of religion using an argument that would directly influence Th Jefferson. But before that, he looted their shrines, killed their priests. Genghis lived in the 13th century, but he struggled with many of the same problems faced today: How may one balance religious freedom with the need to restrain fanatics? Can one compel rival religionsdriven by deep-seated hatredto live together peacefully? A celebrated anthropologist whose bestselling Genghis Khan & the Making of the Modern World radically transformed our understanding of the Mongols & their legacy, Weatherford has spent 18 years exploring areas of Mongolia closed until the USSR's fall & researching The Secret History of the Mongols, an astonishing document written in code that was only recently discovered. He pored thru archives & found groundbreaking evidence of Genghis influence on the founding fathers. Now, with this masterpiece of historical erudition & religious insight, he's written his most resonant work. The anger of the gods -- Becoming Temujin -- The teeth that eat men -- The golden whip of heaven -- Wisdom of the steppe -- Conflicting selves -- Becoming Genghis Khan -- Messenger of light -- Jesus of the steppe -- The making of the Mongol nation -- Guardians of the flame -- Becoming the world conqueror -- Wings of one bird -- God's omnipotence -- The thumb of fate -- Wild man from the mountain -- The Confucian and the unicorn -- Becoming a god -- The last campaign -- War, inside and out -- Burning the books -- Life after death -- The thunderbolt of God "Reveals how Genghis Khan harnessed the power of religion to rule the largest empire the world has ever known. By the New York Times best-selling author of Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World, "--NoveList