Genghis KhanGenghis Khan, or Temujin, as he was called early in his life, was born around 1167 into the pastoral and nomadic lifestyle of the Mongols. Mongol life centered on several fragmented tribes that continually fought each other, led by individual khans. “Temujin enjoyed years of successful conquests in these tribal wars” (Adler and Pouwels, 239-41). At the age of sixteen, Temujin married Borte, a woman from another tribe. “Temujin married Borte, thus cementing the alliance between the Konkirat tribe and his own.” (“Biography.com”). Temujin was greatly feared among the Mongols, as he was known for his cruelty, cunning, and ferocity. “…by 1196 he had become powerful enough to assert personal control over all the Mongol tribes” (Adler and Pouwels, 239-41). By 1206, Temujin had conquered almost all of central and eastern Mongolia and, through a council of clan elders, he was proclaimed Chinghis Khan, also known as Genghis Khan. “For the first time in their history, the Mongols were united under a single leader.” (Adler and Pouwels, 239-41). Genghis Khan was a brilliant military tactician, as he combined the fighting style of the Mongols with new forms of organization, as well as new methods. This unique combination made his armies an unstoppable force and an extremely effective army. “First he divided them into light and heavy cavalry.” The variety of its forces also helped the Mongols become a formidable power. Light cavalry generally used the speed of their horses, as well as their light weapons, to strike their opponents quickly. The heavy cavalry adorned Chinese-style armor in addition to the usual Mongolian light weaponry. The Mongol conquests consisted of three phases, from 12 to middle of paper...... would not have been a world power. , and several shopping centers, created by the conquests, would not have been connected. Without Genghis Khan, his grandsons, who would lead the Mongol people, would not have appeared, so world history as we know it would be completely changed. The unique mix of heavy and light cavalry that Genghis Khan first designed would not have been seen by the world, nor would the use of terrorist propaganda used to win fights or achieve easy surrender. Works Cited Adler, Philip and Randall Pouwels, comp. Civilizations of the world. 6. Boston: Wadsworth, 2008. 239-41. Print."Genghis Khan." 2011. Biography.com November 14, 2011, 08:14http://www.biography.com/people/genghis-khan-9308634Smitha, Frank. “Genghis Khan and the Great Mongol Empire. » Macrohistory and global reporting. NP, 2011. Web. November 14 2011. .