Genghis Khan was the founder of the Mongol Empire, the largest continuous land empire ever. On his death in 1227, this extended from the Near East to the Yellow Sea, and was expanded by his successors to include what is now Iran, Iraq and southern Russia. By 1206, Genghis Khan had completed the unification by conquest of all the tribes of Mongolia, and was acclaimed as universal Khan. He then launched his assault on Northern China. Peking was captured in 1215, and the Chin were finally subjugated by Genghis's successors in 1234. This is the definitive biography.

Paul Ratchnevsky was Emeritus Professor of Sinology at Humboldt University in Berlin, and best known for his three-volume work Un Code des Yuan.

Thomas Nivison Haining CMG served for over 30 years in the diplomatic service, including as Ambassador to Mongolia. He is currently an honorary Research Associate in History at the University of Aberdeen.

Author of the new introduction:
Morris Rossabi is Professor of History at the City University of New York and Adjunct Professor at Columbia University.