This was an entry long overdue in a section that calls itself “Chad of the Week”.
For those not into history, Genghis Khan went on from being a sick child eating rats for survival to building the largest empire ever known to mankind.
A rough upbringing usually moulds the most ambitious minds.
After his father was killed by Naiman forces, young Genghis was deemed unworthy and abandoned by his tribe.
Not one to surrender, he started to network his way through shamans and minor chieftains, steadily gaining followers.
After raising a considerable army, he united the Mongol tribes under his rule, and crushed everyone who dared to question his authority.
Once every Mongol horde was under his command, Genghis resorted to a classic Mongolian pastime: Ransacking and raiding China and Persia.
With a big difference, however.
Genghis wasn’t going to just browbeat them and ask for some tribute. Unlike previous Khans, Genghis’ objective was a full on conquest.
His army was much more disciplined, and versatile than those of his rivals. The regular Mongolian cavalry archer had three horses each, strategically placed around their growing empire. Think of it as Formula 1 cars, soldiers could leave their tired horse in one post, and grab a new one, effectively never stopping to move.
Genghis’ army was trained, drilled every day, and paid regularly.
Unlike armies who answered to whomever might be the newest prince or the new big lord, the Hordes answered to the Great Khan.
Our boy Genghis has been portrayed many times as a ruthless, merciless machine of killing. The truth is that he was quite an easy-going guy, as long as you acknowledged his rule. Mongols allowed for freedom of worship along all their empire.
In fact, because the Mongol Empire went almost from South Korea to Hungary, the period known as Pax Mongolica saw society flourish, as trade networks surged across the whole Eurasian continent, assuring safe travels and commerce.
So in a way, Genghis Khan was the father of globalization.
What can we learn from Genghis?
- He understood that one does not conquer alone. One needs followers, supporters, and allies. Live and die by the crew.
- Pick your battles. Letting the other party get what they want (in this case religious freedom) is a textbook negotiation skill (as long as your objectives are served)
- Treat your subordinates well. Don’t half ass it when it come to talent. Treat them and pay them well and you will get that investment back with interest.
- Your present or past does not determine your future. If he can rise from eating rats to the ruler of the largest Empire that existed, how far can you make it?
And in the world of politics, that’s what makes him our Chad of the Week.