Buy new:
-27% $25.45
FREE delivery Tuesday, May 21 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$25.45 with 27 percent savings
List Price: $34.95

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Tuesday, May 21 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Thursday, May 16. Order within 6 hrs 40 mins
Only 1 left in stock (more on the way).
$$25.45 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$25.45
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day easy returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$16.99
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
Readable copy! Item may have some wear (such as marks, creases, cuts, bends, tanning, writing, highlighting, markings, moisture wear, missing dust cover, or crushes) on the cover, spine, pages, or dust cover(if applicable). Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media. Readable copy! Item may have some wear (such as marks, creases, cuts, bends, tanning, writing, highlighting, markings, moisture wear, missing dust cover, or crushes) on the cover, spine, pages, or dust cover(if applicable). Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media. See less
FREE delivery Wednesday, May 22 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Thursday, May 16. Order within 5 hrs 55 mins
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$25.45 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$25.45
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the authors

J. J. Saunders
+ Follow
John Joseph Saunders
+ Follow
See all
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The History of the Mongol Conquests Paperback – March 29, 2001

by J. J. Saunders (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 25 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$25.45","priceAmount":25.45,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"25","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"45","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"OZ8%2BoZXF2FooXTmZLcttUu%2Fs2vttLkQVChS0OfY%2B8ufdPcHj%2Fh0papayU0YU%2B2PXX8%2BLxtf6NjPTgkDeLZWQmuqxUBTzQ7usWmWOJz7kC%2B7p0Lx3jhmNZgvr77RqOiJS0Hyzw8EvdE0%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$16.99","priceAmount":16.99,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"16","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"99","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"OZ8%2BoZXF2FooXTmZLcttUu%2Fs2vttLkQV%2FosFn7FVKB5ekVxu8ugGdkDPr48N%2Ff2WnB6%2BWg75%2BNKTqyEZTUKFO5XhOoe2s5fLPmzJkp5RK8MCgWBHxImNXi0eDmbEIDITWrZznDhnKqn6NGwn4iU59AJthoS7wd84YnqaDsrTgt6OVLaJ9xIDLbuLXnh7R7kQ","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

The Mongol conquests, culminating with the invasion of Europe in the middle of the thirteenth century, were of a scope and range never equaled. These nomadic peoples from central Asia briefly held sway over an empire that stretched across Asia to the frontiers of Germany and the shores of the Adriatic. Surprisingly little has been written on this vast and immensely influential empire, known chiefly through the charismatic leaders, Chingis Khan and Kublai Khan.

J. J. Saunders's landmark book, first published in 1972, is a carefully documented introductory history of the rise and fall of the great Mongol empire. Saunders sets the historical stage with a discussion of nomad groups and cultures at the dawn of the second millennium, and then traces the rise of the Mongol conquests through the earlier Turkish expansion into Asia between the eighth and twelfth centuries. Beginning in the early 1200s, the Mongols led by Chingis Khan began their insatiable assault on all the kingdoms and peoples around them, erasing whole cities, killing entire populations, forcing mass migrations, and permanently changing the distribution of the world's major religions. The Mongols were finally checked along the edges of Europe and forced out of the Middle East by rejuvenated Muslim factions.

As Saunders concludes, one of the major legacies of the Mongol conquests was the transfer of intellectual and scientific primacy of the Old World from Islamic societies to Western Europe, paving the way for the Renaissance.

Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    296 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    University of Pennsylvania Press
  4. Publication date
    March 29, 2001
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.75 x 8.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0812217667
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0812217667
  8. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now

Frequently bought together

The History of the Mongol Conquests
$25.45
Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 21
Only 1 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Genghis Khan’s Greatest General: Subotai the Valiant
$17.76
Get it as soon as Monday, May 20
Only 18 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
One of these items ships sooner than the other.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

Review

By far the best modern narrative account of the most extensive land empire in the history of the world. It is the ideal introduction to the field.--David Morgan, author of The Mongols

Book Description

"By far the best modern narrative account of the most extensive land empire in the history of the world."—David Morgan, author of The Mongols

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of Pennsylvania Press; Illustrated edition (March 29, 2001)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 296 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0812217667
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0812217667
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.75 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 25 ratings

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Previous page
  1. J. J. Saunders

    J. J. Saunders

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

    See more on the author's page
  2. John Joseph Saunders

    John Joseph Saunders

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

    See more on the author's page
Next page

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
25 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

RDahl
5.0 out of 5 stars price was right!
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2021
Verified Purchase
exactly as advertised. price was right.
Helpful
 Report
C. Santos
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic read!
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2016
Verified Purchase
I loved this book immensely. Was a great overview of the Mongol conquests despite its age. Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcast drew me to this book, which I read in about a week.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Ann Stewart
5.0 out of 5 stars Sould be required reading
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2002
How could I have lived for so long without the knowledge that's in this book? It's essential for understanding our (and "their") history. I had no idea of the permanent impact the Mongol infiltration of western Asia & eastern Europe had on the development of societies not only there but in Europe (and probably China, but most of the book is spent in Asia). They were only in control for about 100 years, but they weren't just mean tourists or hit-and-run snipers. And I had no idea that Turks (who, as a people, did a dry run of the Mongol invasion 5 or 600 years earlier) were originally from north of the Gobi desert. I had no idea of the degree of commercial and intellectual communication between China and the west that far back. And if you want to understand the rise of Islam, you must read this book. If you want to understand the nature of Russia, you must read this book. There's so much more. The book seems well researched, and the author seems to let us know when he's hypothesizing. This is a book to buy & keep.
42 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Stage 3
3.0 out of 5 stars Starts strong but fades, although still worth it
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2009
Verified Purchase
This book written by J.J. Saunders was originally published in 1971 and its continued production speaks volumes for the interest in the subject matter that he is writing about. The Mongol conquests were a fascinating period of history, although for the people of the times looking out from their villages as the Mongol warriors charged in on their steppe ponies, terror was probably more apt. Saunders covers a significant amount of time and territory across his pages in a roughly chronological approach. He starts with a very thorough coverage of Chingis Khan (Ghengis Khan as it is often spelt) from his birth, through the ostracism of his family, then on to his bloody climb to power in not just Mongolia but across a lot of the Eurasian land mass. This coverage is excellent with much detail. There are family trees at the start of the book to assist the reader in understanding the linkages. Saunders analyses the military side of the Mongols and also discusses the religious aspect, especially as they change from their paganism to Islam.

His discussion about the Mongols being confused with the legend of the Kingdom of Prester John is an interesting aside. The Crusade era of the West coincided with the time of the Mongol conquests. Travellers brought back confusing tails of what religion the Mongols were and some Christians in the West believed that the Mongols were the lost Christian Kingdom under Prester John. They hoped that the Christian West and the Mongols could squeeze the Muslims that were between their two spheres of influence. While they were encouraged by the Mongolian attacks of the Muslim lands they were disabused of their theory of co-coreligionists when the Mongols proved equally happy to sack Christian lands.

Saunders has brought a complex subject into an enjoyable book but it seemed that the further that he moved from Chingis the less information there was about the Mongols. This despite the observations of Marco Polo in the court of Kubilai Khan. Timur or Tamerlane also gets scant treatment. Saunders in a way does obliquely justify this by asking how Mongol was Timur when he was more Turkic then Mongol on the surface. In addition, by that time Timur was just one of the Mongol leaders in the area of the formally united Mongol Empire. Significantly, while other leaders used Khan, Timur did not.

That said this is a worthwhile volume to have in your library if you are interested in the Mongols. I believe that it will appeal to both those with a knowledge already of the Mongols and those with a passing interest.
19 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Bob Newman
4.0 out of 5 stars hoards of information
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2009
Verified Purchase
The eruption of nomadic warriors across Asia into Europe and the Middle East in the 1200s was only the greatest of many previous waves. Under Genghis Khan (Chingis, Jengiz, etc) and his immediate successors, the Mongols reached Germany and Croatia, Korea, Japan, Java, Burma, and Egypt. They built the greatest contiguous empire the world has ever known. It all collapsed within a century. The Mongols had some military geniuses as leaders in the beginning and were known for religious tolerance once things settled down, but for administration, they had to rely on others---Chinese, Persians, Turks, and even Europeans. The problems of succession did them in, as they have done so many other empires in history.
In this very informative work, Saunders acknowledges that he is trying the impossible. How to summarize and explain the vast panorama of events occuring over half the globe during 150 years or more ? He starts with Turkish precursors to the Mongols, then takes readers through the standard history of the Great Khans, Genghis, Ogedei, Mongke, and Kubilai. The Mongol Empire having broken up into four sections, we then get a history of each of the four, as far as is known---the separate khanates of Persia, Central Asia, Russia, and China. The older, more sophisticated societies of Persia and China soon shook off the Mongol yoke, absorbing their conquerors, while in Central Asia, the regime gave rise to Tamerlane, another bloody conqueror who left towers of heads in his wake. His death brought his sudden empire to a speedy end. Only in Russia, where disunity and confusion reigned, did the Mongol rule last 250 years.
While memorizing the various rulers, viziers, generals, and rebellious relatives (not to mention names of now-vanished cities) may prove a tough nut for any reader, Saunders' discussion of the ups and downs of three major religions---Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam in the context of the conquests---is extremely interesting and informative. Christianity had a major role in the Mongol realms, but without easy access to a source of finance or priests, and because Nestorian fought with Roman Catholic, Islam won over the rulers and people in time. The earliest Mongol defeats came from Islamic armies as well. Buddhism remained strong in China and of course, in the Mongolian heartland itself.
Not being an expert on Mongolian history, I can't say if this book is now outdated; if new information or analytic trends have replaced it. It seems to me, though, that it offers a solid introduction to the history of that people who burst out of inner Asia and changed the course of history. You certainly cannot understand the history of Russia and Europe, never mind Iran and the Middle East, without its subject matter.
8 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Baerrus
4.0 out of 5 stars Solid historic work
Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2003
Verified Purchase
On balance it is a solid and readable compilation of primary and secondary sources on the subject. I liked the book and the author did a good deal of work to produce it. Unfortunately, there is a gross error right in the second paragraph of the book. Though, it is peripheral to the core material. Details of such a remote period of history are scarce, understandably so, and author stretches the book with dynamics of Islam, Christianity etc in Asia during the period. In itself a fasinating topic but NOT related to Mongol Conquests.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
P C McNaughtan
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2015
Verified Purchase
Excellent
Helpful
 Report