Great Myths and Legends: Genghis Khan: Barbarian Conqueror or Harbinger of Democracy

Dr. Morris Rossabi, Senior Research Scholar, Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, Columbia University
The world has generally viewed Genghis Khan as a barbaric conqueror whose troops raped and murdered hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people and pillaged and often destroyed villages, towns, and cities throughout Asia and Europe. However, several popular writers have recently portrayed him as an advocate of democracy, international law, and women's rights. Morris Rossabi, Senior Research Scholar, Queens College, Columbia University, offers this illustrated lecture, which seeks to provide a balanced depiction of Genghis Khan and to explain the reasons for the myths that have developed about the man and the Mongolian people who established the largest contiguous land empire in world history.

[@harrymcnicholas9468]

I am waiting for you tube to present some history on Mongolia by a Mongolian academic. My friend's mother in Mongolia is a professor of Mongolian history and not so keen on western presentation of Mongolian history.

[@bingeltube]

Very recommendable!

[@zayazundui4819]

Thomas Bingel to who?

[@moon_yeka]

Okay I've always wondered why some Persian art looked so similar to Chinese art. Thank you.

[@Amra724]

This professor is ALL OVER THE PLACE! Obviously, he hasn't done his research good enough! And he tried to debunk other professors life long research works!

[@matthewdolan5831]

Ecowarrior works too ...

[@yesukheich6134]

very interesting analysis

[@Xunre]

Chingiz Khan had already conquered large areas of North China before the war wth Khwarizm. Juvaini was a Mongol administrator and courtier at the time he wrote. The myth of the murderous wife actually refers to Attila the Hun. This man seems not to know quite basic elements of the history.

[@jeksentoqtarbay1302]

Genghis Khan has nothing to do with today's mongol. Today's mongol consists of only 3 tribes like kalka, oyrat etc. Genghis Khan first wife Borte is from kongrat and mother Merkit. And all his baturs from Naiman, Jalayr, Dulat. Non of these tribes do not have today's mongol. But we, kazakh, still have these tribes. Also it was proven that Genghis Khan official language was Turik not kalka or oyrat. By the way, Genghis Khan time's mongol (minkol) also kazakh word meaning forever nation. But today's mongolian mongol had this name 20th century.

[@dboydboy1000]

Interesting you bring up Atilla the Hun. I remember a few years back I became fascinated with Khan. I read 2-3 books and watched several documentaries. I liked to learn the less known things such as supposedly he had red hair and green eyes. Anyways about a year ago I learned about Atilla the Hun. And I couldn't believe the similarities between the 2 men. I mean similarities that actually raise red flags. I have learned that supposedly only 3 historians were said to have written about him. And only 1..1 Roman historian is said to have actually met him. Something's up, I wish I knew exactly what was true and what wasn't, good luck I know.

[@yveslaflute9228]

Travis: What's up? Do you think a small population of tent dwelling mongols really took over 1/2 the world? History has been modified. Attila makes more sense.

[@ognii]

You need to read more about Mongol! We follow fathers blood! Genghis Khan is Borjgon! Not Kazakh or Turk!

[@ognii]

Kazakh is nothing to do with Genghis Khan!

[@نادرالیراحمان]

"Hindu" figures. "hindu" was simply a word coined for different religions in the subcontinent, even if they were not the same as each other. It's a misnomer.

[@spilbeen5213]

ghengis the ancestor of chaca.

[@edwinharms6836]

The map is wrong

[@ognii]

We invented pony express! We invented passport! We invented biological weapons! We invented globalization! We invented religious freedom!

[@zayazundui4819]

JONATHAN SUTCLIFFE close. We invented modern world. How about that?

[@matthewmann8969]

At least he had vision and some planning and forward thinking and was not a complete tunnel visioned brute

[@NasirAli-ev3tu]

Genghis khan couldn't gain respect due to his barbarian acts, as world respect Alexander, Saladin Ayubi, Marcopolo and other conqueror because they didn't kill civilian children,old men and didn't rape innocent women. Sorry for Mongol fellows... Because his story of barbarism made me cry.

[@harrymcnicholas9468]

That is because all those people are from the west. Now ask East Asians.

[@romusromulus]

This could be one of the worst lectures of Penn. Simply terrible.

[@gst9325]

brace yourselves, angry Mongolian comments are coming

[@TheRhinehart86]

Lol, it's impossible to watch a historical documentary/lecture on KZbin without the comment section being overrun with nationalist revisionists claiming that Genghis Khan was a black Egyptian who built pyramids in Bosnia and educated Alexander the Great in the modern Macedonian language before defeating the British in a naval battle off the coast of Spain or some shit. Every nation did everything according to every nationalist.

[@dineshlamarumba4557]

some indians are saying genghis was hindu king.

[@ichkaodko7020]

it's been 5 month since this comment. Where the hell is that angry Mongolian comments? if it was about alexander the great or roman empire, as you said, angry occident comment would have destroyed not only the comment section but also whole internet :-P

[@ognii]

Oh i'm coming all right! Where did he get his PHD? Seriously? He don't know nothing about Mongolian culture! I have seen westerns come to Mongolia and couldn't handle the winter season! You think tough enough? Ask your self before you mock Mongols! -45'c ! We got your frosted bulls!

[@zayazundui4819]

xyz xyz 😄

[@ognii]

I'm sorry you trying to undermine Genghis Khan and Mongolia!

[@zayazundui4819]

He has to study...more professor...sorry to say that.

[@deleteduser121]

He never existed

[@ognii]

Totally BS