The Rise and Fall of the Second Largest Empire in History

“Thomas J. Craughwell shows us how Genghis Khan and his grandson Kublai created a ‘Pax Mongolia,’ which endured nearly a century and brought to some 9 million square miles of our planet stability and a level of civilization previously unknown. Were the Mongols cruel? Often. Fierce? Always. Mindless? Never. Here is the fascinating story of history’s most misunderstood empire builders.”  —Alan Axelrod, author of Little-Known Wars of Great and Lasting Impact and Patton’s Drive

“Everything you’ve ever wanted to know—or shuddered at knowing—about the Mongols is here, from the stack of forty million dead bodies they piled up in their wake to the very real peace, the Pax Mongolica, that made all of Asia safe for commerce and opened up known world to new ideas and technologies. In all, great sweeping history from a superb writer.”  —Joseph Cummins, author of The World’s Bloodiest History and The War Chronicles

“Thomas Craughwell’s narrative is at once approachable and illuminating, and he has a gift for finding the telling detail. The Mongols ride again in this marvel of erudition.”  —Cormac O’Brien, author of The Forgotten History of America