Genghis Khan and Mongol Empire: Book Recommendation

agewisdom · Mar 7, 2013

Hi All,

Just registered at this forum and I find that its' great to see so many history buffs around.

Recently, I have become more interested in history especially on ancient empires, including the Mongol Empire. I went through Amazon, but got a bit confused by the variety of books there, which seems to vary in quality.

Anyone care to share their top 3 books on Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire? My interests are slated towards the following criteria:

1. Primarily more geared towards the military campaigns undertaken by Genghis Khan and his successors;

2. Covering the rise and fall of the Mongol Empire, if possible;

3. Can be of any length, preferably the longer the better. Preferably, not too academic, but more geared to a non-academic just interested in ancient history. Some academic works (understandably!) have excessive referencing etc., which interferes with readability at times, which I would like to avoid, where possible.

I intend to buy the book below, but I am not too sure whether it's suitable for me, as a beginner:
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Mongol-Empire-Its-Rise-Legacy/dp/1412805198/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362627108&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Mongol+Empire%3A+Its+Rise+and+Legacy"]The Mongol Empire: Its Rise and Legacy: Michael Prawdin, Gerard Chaliand: 9781412805193: Amazon.com: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5178WCATMZL.@@AMEPARAM@@5178WCATMZL[/ame]

Thanks everybody

cachibatches · Mar 8, 2013

The Devil's Horsemen is one of my favs.

agewisdom · Mar 8, 2013

cachibatches said:
The Devil's Horsemen is one of my favs.

Thanks. Will check it out.

Knarly Dan · Mar 8, 2013

Currently I'm reading The Mongols, From Genghis Khan to Tamerlane, by W.B. Bartlett, and it's proving very readable. Lots of references and a sizable bibliography in back. Also maps, which for reasons unknown some authors fail to offer in their books.

agewisdom · Mar 8, 2013

Knarly Dan said:
Currently I'm reading The Mongols, From Genghis Khan to Tamerlane, by W.B. Bartlett, and it's proving very readable. Lots of references and a sizable bibliography in back. Also maps, which for reasons unknown some authors fail to offer in their books.

Great, thanks for the recommendations.

Really appreciate the feedback!

f0ma · Mar 8, 2013

[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/John-Man/e/B000APPAPK/ref=la_B000APPAPK_pg_1?rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_82%3AB000APPAPK&ie=UTF8&qid=1362753719"]Amazon.co.uk: John Man: Books, Biogs, Audiobooks, Discussions@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/01Px86uLUkL.@@AMEPARAM@@01Px86uLUkL[/ame]

John Man has written a fair bit of popular history on the Mongols, which might be of interest to you. I've not read his work myself, but it sounds like the kind of thing you're after.

agewisdom · Mar 8, 2013

Thanks, will check it out.

Dreamhunter · Mar 9, 2013

I would recommend Lords of the Bow, a novel of the historical fiction (HF) genre by leading HF novelist Conn Iggulden.

You might also want to browse through Empire of Silver, also by the same author, which tells of the life and campaigns of Ogodai, Genghiz' son and successor.

agewisdom · Mar 9, 2013

Dreamhunter said:
I would recommend Lords of the Bow, a novel of the historical fiction (HF) genre by leading HF novelist Conn Iggulden.

You might also want to browse through Empire of Silver, also by the same author, which tells of the life and campaigns of Ogodai, Genghiz' son and successor.

Thanks Dreamhunter

. I don't usually look at HF genre, but it sounds interesting. I'll check it out

augustus · Mar 14, 2013

cachibatches said:
The Devil's Horsemen is one of my favs.

Good rec; I read it myself about 30 years ago (book's full title, btw: The Devil's Horsemen: The Mongol Invasion of Europe). And being as how it was that long ago, I of course don't remember all the details; but one passage that lingers in my mind is when a certain Mongolian chieftain sealed an opposing army's emissary in a wooden box and then plopped his ... down and had din-din on the latter's soon-to-be tomb; the hapless diplomat all the while suffocating to death.

Not too many years after having read Horsemen, I was talking about that very book with an uncle of mine -- a West Point grad and a former instructor at the US Army War College in Washington, DC -- who had recently from the military as a bird colonel. I mentioned the author stated that Mongolian battle tactics (such as feigning retreat, having the enemy's cavalry pursue them to the point of exhaustion, and then wheeling around and counterattacking) have been studied for centuries by the top military schools of the world. Funny thing, his response. He didn't acknowledge whether or not this was true (and who would better know?) but simply replied: "Rob, they were noted more for their cruelty than anything else." I thought that an odd response from a man who had taught tactics and strategy to captains and majors in a prestigious military institution.

markdienekes · Mar 14, 2013

f0ma said:
Amazon.co.uk: John Man: Books, Biogs, Audiobooks, Discussions

John Man has written a fair bit of popular history on the Mongols, which might be of interest to you. I've not read his work myself, but it sounds like the kind of thing you're after.

Haha, that's my mate's dad.

I found his Genghis Khan book to be more of a travel book than getting deep into Mongol history, still a good read.

agewisdom · Mar 14, 2013

augustus said:
Good rec; I read it myself about 30 years ago (book's full title, btw: The Devil's Horsemen: The Mongol Invasion of Europe). And being as how it was that long ago, I of course don't remember all the details; but one passage that lingers in my mind is when a certain Mongolian chieftain sealed an opposing army's emissary in a wooden box and then plopped his ... down and had din-din on the latter's soon-to-be tomb; the hapless diplomat all the while suffocating to death.

Not too many years after having read Horsemen, I was talking about that very book with an uncle of mine -- a West Point grad and a former instructor at the US Army War College in Washington, DC -- who had recently from the military as a bird colonel. I mentioned the author stated that Mongolian battle tactics (such as feigning retreat, having the enemy's cavalry pursue them to the point of exhaustion, and then wheeling around and counterattacking) have been studied for centuries by the top military schools of the world. Funny thing, his response. He didn't acknowledge whether or not this was true (and who would better know?) but simply replied: "Rob, they were noted more for their cruelty than anything else." I thought that an odd response from a man who had taught tactics and strategy to captains and majors in a prestigious military institution.

Dear Augustus,

Nice to meet you and thanks for the feedback.

Sounds like an interesting book. Have decided to buy a used copy from Amazon. The Mongol Invasion of Europe sounds very exciting. It's ironic how the Mongols Horde from Asia were posing a very real threat to Western Civilization then. Yet a couple of hundred years later, courtesy of the Industrial Revolution - the opposite occurred. China being forced to open up trade ports by Western Powers, the Opium wars, colonization of India and most of South East Asia.

I find it strange your Uncle would be so dismissive of Mongolian battle tactics. Granted, they were cruel but also very successful. In my opinion, a thorough understanding of these tactics would assist modern commanders from falling for the same ruse. In war, when one's back is against the wall, its' ruses and stratagems that can play an important role in influencing outcomes.

agewisdom · Mar 14, 2013

markdienekes said:
Haha, that's my mate's dad.

I found his Genghis Khan book to be more of a travel book than getting deep into Mongol history, still a good read.

Thanks for the feedback, matey.

Yeah, saw that in some reviews as well. Probably great for those planning to visit Mongolia and the countries they conquered.

Dreamhunter · Mar 15, 2013

agewisdom said:
Thanks Dreamhunter . I don't usually look at HF genre, but it sounds interesting. I'll check it out

If you like history, you should give it a try. It's like combining serious interest with a bit of entertainment. It's cool, I tell ya.

When I finish my WIP and if I get it published I might consider recommending it to you too.

Like Genghiz's story, it took place in Asia too, but a diffferent part.

agewisdom · Mar 17, 2013

Dreamhunter,

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll definitely try to get a copy when a booksale comes up near my place. Your WIP sounds interesting. Hope you get it published

Heck, didn't realize you're from Malaysia... hehe... didn't think there would be much people interested in history in M'sia

augustus · Mar 18, 2013

agewisdom said:
I find it strange your Uncle would be so dismissive of Mongolian battle tactics. Granted, they were cruel but also very successful. In my opinion, a thorough understanding of these tactics would assist modern commanders from falling for the same ruse. In war, when one's back is against the wall, its' ruses and stratagems that can play an important role in influencing outcomes.

I agree completely that my uncle's reaction was dismissive; especially given the fact that he made the Army his career (as did his son, who also -- recently in fact -- retired from the Army as a bird colonel). But maybe the fact that we were in the middle of watching the Army/Navy football game had something to do with it...

agewisdom · Mar 18, 2013

augustus said:
I agree completely that my uncle's reaction was dismissive; especially given the fact that he made the Army his career (as did his son, who also -- recently in fact -- retired from the Army as a bird colonel). But maybe the fact that we were in the middle of watching the Army/Navy football game had something to do with it...

Hehe... maybe his team was losing, that's why he's dismissive

Well, will get the Devil's Horseman book soon... looking forward to read it

augustus · Mar 18, 2013

agewisdom said:
Hehe... maybe his team was losing, that's why he's dismissive

ya think...?

Me: So Uncle Ed, what do you think of the Mongol's mili--

Uncle Ed: Will you shut up already?!... Can't you see that my Black Knights are getting their ..... handed to them on a silver platter? Sheesh!...kids!!

agewisdom · Mar 18, 2013

augustus said:
ya think...?

Me: So Uncle Ed, what do you think of the Mongol's mili--

Uncle Ed: Will you shut up already?!... Can't you see that my Black Knights are getting their ..... handed to them on a silver platter? Sheesh!...kids!!

Yup, that's exactly how I imagined it went down.

Dreamhunter · Mar 20, 2013

agewisdom said:
Dreamhunter,

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll definitely try to get a copy when a booksale comes up near my place. Your WIP sounds interesting. Hope you get it published

Heck, didn't realize you're from Malaysia... hehe... didn't think there would be much people interested in history in M'sia

YW. Yep, the name Malaysia somehow disappeared from my profile, but I've put it back.

You ever visit Kinokuniya, that big bookstore in Suria KLCC? Go there some time. There's a couple of racks or so in there devoted to Western HF, just to get ya started. But the ancient HF they have is all mainly centred on Rome, Greece, Mesopotamia, Egypt or such like.

You wouldn't want to bet your last ringgit on that.

Besides, it's the story, not the locale, which is the important factor. The British HF fans would be a potential market, I'm sure. Also the other European expatriates. If they can spend RM1,000 on a Saturday night at some fancy joint in Jalan P. Ramlee or Changkat Ceylon, surely they won't mind parting with RM50 - RM70 on a decent HF book which they can enjoy for the rest of their life. And then there's also our local and regional English-reading readership.

Yeah, so I'm going to hit them all with something they haven't seen before. Some exotic, culture filled, action packed HF from 11th century Malaysia and SEA. And it will have a few exotic foreign characters from ... Angli Land ... Byzantium ... and ... even Goryeo! All right, I'd better stop there before I give everything away. Ok, I get carried away sometimes.

Search

Search

Genghis Khan and Mongol Empire: Book Recommendation

agewisdom

cachibatches

agewisdom

Knarly Dan

agewisdom

f0ma

agewisdom

Dreamhunter

agewisdom

augustus

markdienekes

agewisdom

agewisdom

Dreamhunter

agewisdom

augustus

agewisdom

augustus

agewisdom

Dreamhunter

More History Discussions

Recent History Discussions

Trending History Discussions