Ryan Martin II
A Person I Admire
The person I most truly admire is Genghis Khan. Although he was born into a poor family, he eventually became the leader of the largest contiguous empire in history, and the second largest empire altogether. He achieved his goals and overcame his obstacles by working hard and believing in himself.
In the mid-12th century, Borjigin Temujin was born in the Khentii Mountains, in modern-day Mongolia. At age 9, his father was killed by a tribe of Tartars, and Temujin became the leader of the Borjigin clan. After many years of poverty and homelessness, Temujin and his brother killed their greedy older brother, who had stolen much of their food. They were put into slavery for their crime.
After being freed from slavery 5 years later, Temujin returned to his childhood friend Borje, with whom a marriage had been arranged many years earlier. He married her, and began a business trading her coats. Through his salesmanship, Temujin became friends with the local Khan (clan leader), Ong Khan, who ruled over the powerful Kereyid clan.
After Borje was kidnapped, Temujin attacked the kidnappers with the Kereyid army, and saved her. Temujin’s son Jochi was born later that year.
Temujin left Ong Khan when he was threatened by Ong’s son, Jamuka. With him, he took many of the Kereyid soldiers and much of Jamuka’s livestock. Temujin was elected the the Khan of the Mongols. Despite being looted and tortured by Jamuka’s army, the Mongols soon conquered the Tartars in addition to other smaller tribes. Temujin adopted the people of the clans he conquered instead of leaving them to die.
After suffering an arrow to the neck, Temujin finally defeated the Kereyids and gained control of both Jamuka’s and Ong Khan’s armies. Soon, he had conquered all of Mongolia. He was named Genghis Khan, King of Mongolia.
Genghis Khan took over much of Siberia and China. When he was told to bow to the Golden Khan of Beijing, he spat at him and killed the...
