Reply #102: He was Nestorian Christian.

[ieoeja]

Nestor was one of those who spread Christianity east instead of west. Before Peter even found his rock in Rome.

The Roman Catholic church sent representatives to the Khan we he first came to their attention. When they sought to convert him he was reported to have told them that he was already Christian.

Something I heard on a television program once. I did a quickie search online and found the speculation you mention. I also saw where his mentor was Nestorian. I expect the speculation is fueled by (1) his religious tolerance and (2) the fact that Christians don't want to claim him.

Genghis Khan is the exception to the rule that conquerors write the histories. In his case the histories were almost exclusively written by those he conquered. Subsequently his negatives were exaggerated and his positives downplayed.

Yes, he took vengenance on his father's killers in Mongolia which led to the formation of a Mongolian nation. But he did not set out to conquer territories outside Mongolia. He just set out to establish diplomatic and trade relations. But all he encountered were evil tyrants. Repeatedly his ambassadors were killed or mutilated. He ended up conquering everyone out of retaliation for these acts, not because he wanted to expand his empire. At least at the beginning.

And what did he do after conquering this territory? He built roads, libraries and schools. He instituted religious and cultural tolerance. He launched urban development.

Sure, sometimes urban development meant killing everyone in one town to make way for another, but he meant well. Let's call it "aggressive urban development".

:evilgrin: