Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire

Born around 1162, the boy who would become Genghis Khan was named Temüjin. His life began with a striking omen. According to 'The Secret History of the Mongols', he was born clutching a blood clot the size of a knucklebone, a sign of his destiny as a great warrior. But his early years were not glorious. When Temüjin was just nine, his father, Yesügei, was poisoned by a rival clan. His own people then abandoned his family, leaving them to survive on wild berries and marmots. In this harsh world, the young Temüjin learned to be ruthless, even killing his half-brother in a dispute over food to establish his authority. He would endure slavery before escaping to forge alliances and begin his ascent.