Genghis Khan was a legendary figure who changed the course of Mongolian history in the 12th and 13th centuries. A great warrior and tribal leader, Genghis Khan ruled over the majority of the world's existing population. The amount of land he conquered during his reign was unprecedented. It was the greatest empire in history. Genghis Khan's most important achievement was the unification of the diverse Mongolian people. Genghis Khan is also famous for many innovations such as the establishment of a writing system, postal service, legal code, census and important social reforms. Born in 1162 to the Borjigin tribe of Mongolia, Genghis Khan was named Temujin, after a rival chieftain of his father. had just killed. Later in his life, his name was changed to "Genghis Khan", which means "World Leader". Temujin was born with a red mark on his left hand, which according to Mongolian belief is the sign of a great leader. During Temujin's childhood, many circumstances contributed to him becoming the leader of Mongolia. For example, when Temujin was nine years old, his father was poisoned by the Tatars, rivals of the family, leaving Temujin without a father. The tribesmen refused to accept him as leader in place of his father because he was too young. There were many conflicts within the tribe regarding who would assume the role of leader. Eventually, the tribesmen abandoned Temujin along with his mother and brothers. They were left alone and struggled to find food and basic necessities. During this time, his mother taught Temujin important life skills, such as making alliances, which would prove useful later in his life. When Temujin was fourteen, he accidentally killed his half-brother during a hunting dispute. Shortly after, Temujin was... middle of paper ... as initially taken over by his son, Ogedei. It was then shared among the other sons. Over time, Genghis Khan's descendants took control of Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the rest of China. The Khan empire ended in 1368, when he was overthrown by the Yin. However, his impact on the world remained significant. Genghis Khan accomplished enormous feats during his life. His greatest legacy was the unification of the Mongols. By becoming the leader of all the warring Mongol tribes, he created a unified body of people all loyal to him. He promoted trade, cultural diffusion and carried out important social reforms. Some aspects of the code of law he developed still exist today. He was the ruler of the largest empire before the British Empire of the 20th century. Genghis Khan's leadership left important contributions to world civilization during and after his lifetime..