A Brief History of Khubilai Khan
Lord of Xanadu, Founder of the Yuan Dynasty, Emperor of China
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Narrated by:
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Jonathan Clements
About this listen
His grandfather was the bloodthirsty Mongol leader Genghis Khan, his mother a Christian princess. Groomed from childhood for a position of authority, Khubilai snatched the position of Great Khan, becoming the overlord of a Mongol federation that stretched from the Balkans to the Korean coast. His armies conquered the Asian kingdom of Dali and brought down the last defenders of Imperial China.
Khubilai Khan presided over a glorious Asian renaissance, attracting emissaries from all across the continent and opening his civil service to 'men with coloured eyes' - administrators from the Far West. His reign began the glorious Yuan dynasty that ruled over China for only 90 years but had a profound impact on Asian history, from international trade to cultural revolution.
Jonathan Clements' insightful biography into the life and times of one of China's greatest leaders is a fascinating introduction to an important era, uncovering the man behind Marco Polo's mythic portrait.
©2010 Jonathan Clements (P)2021 Hachette Audio UKWhat listeners say about A Brief History of Khubilai Khan
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- Dennis Sommers
- 29-10-21
A simple and balanced histoy well written and read.
Excellent book; clear, brief , well organised and well read: it’s good to have an author read his own material when it works, and in this case it does.
What is further gratifying is that this author has a more balanced take on contemporary Europe than the account of the Mongol empire as a whole that zAudible carries: we know that the Mongols have a villainous reputation but it is best just to tell it like it is as this author does, than to try to make out that Europe was just as barbaric: she wasn’t’but it is fair to highlight achievements of individuals and their actions and policies that were enlightened by their own standards, ‘Europeans rulers and institutions were too often cruel and ‘barbaric’ and the word speaks for itself. We don’t appreciate being preached at by historians and John Clements let’s us make our own comparisons and draw our own adult conclusions: highly recommended
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