Genghis Khan, founder of the Mongol Empire, was born into the Mongol minor nobility and given the name Timujin. His father was murdered when he was only nine years old. Consequently, his mother was left with the work of raising him. Like other Mongols, he was taught from an early age to ride, shoot a bow and arrow, and care for horses. In addition, his mother instilled within the young Timujin an appreciation of the value of allies in the harsh environment in which they lived. As he grew older, Timujin managed to draw a number of trusted figures around him who respected his bravery, intelligence, and powers of persuasion. Some of these individuals even became united with him through the bond of blood brotherhood. However, as his power and influence in Mongol society grew, Timujin was not averse to terminating such alliances if it was to his advantage. In fact, he even betrayed and killed blood brothers such as his childhood friend Jamukha, and the Ong Khan of the Kereyid tribes. In 1204, he defeated Naiman, his last serious opponent, and in 1206 the Mongol nobility proclaimed him their leader, granting him the title "Genghis Khan," which means "Oceanic Ruler," or "Fierce Ruler."        

Genghis Khan was a supremely capable military leader and administrator. He was a careful planner who enforced the strictest discipline on all subordinates. He also created a rather sophisticated intelligence network, from which he derived the information that allowed him to formulate appropriate tactics as he set about expanding the Mongol domains. Typically, he would send envoys to an opponent demanding their submission. If they acquiesced, he usually allowed their rulers to remain in power, so long as they paid taxes, furnished labour, and provided military service. If an opponent remained defiant, he attacked.

In 1209, Genghis Khan moved against the Tanguts of northwest China. Commercial and tributary disputes with the Chin Dynasty of China also led to hostilities, and in 1215 he successfully besieged the Chin capital in the area of modern-day Peking. In 1219, he moved west with around 200,000 troops to confront the Khwarazmian shah of Central Asia. Over the next two years, he besieged and took the cities of Bukhara, Samarkand, Herat, Nishapur, and Merv. He spent several years in Central Asia and enjoyed great military success; with his generals mounting successful raids and expeditions as far west as the Russian city of Novgorod. In 1224, upon hearing news that the Tanguts had rebelled, he returned east to Karakorum, his capital city in Mongolia. He died on August, 1227, perhaps from a wound or a fever contracted during the suppression of the Tangut rebellion.

Genghis Khan left a legacy of more than just military might and skill. He supported artists and craftsmen, and promoted literacy among the Mongol people, who before his reign did not even possess an alphabet. Consequently, the alphabet of the neighbouring Uighur people was adapted to the Mongol language. He also promoted a policy of religious toleration. All individuals and religions were equal under Mongol law, and clergymen of all faiths were even exempted from taxation. Having conquered such a vast domain, Genghis Khan became an enthusiastic promoter of trade. He and his successors encouraged and facilitated greater volumes of traffic throughout Asia. Steps were taken to provide effective policing in order to ensure the safety of travellers and the security of overland routes. Thus, for the first time, numerous European envoys, merchants, and craftsmen could travel in relative safety throughout Central Asia as far as China. Though he was a conqueror whose exploits led to great destruction in terms of life and property, Genghis Khan did ultimately pave the way for an era of relative peace and security and increased cross-cultural contact.