How much do you know about the Mongol empires? If you grew up in the U.S., chances are you answered, “Absolutely nothing.” The world is a big place, and world history has never been much of a priority in American schools; we study various phases of U.S. history, state history, and in a wild flurry of internationalism, some districts now teach a semester of Canadian history. The single year of world history in high school is usually devoted to World War II, which is impossible to teach without including information about Europe, and a smidgen about Japan along with, yes, more American history. There you go. Here’s your diploma.

In my retirement years, I have reveled in the freedom to learn about the history that wasn’t on the syllabus for what I studied, and later, what I was hired to teach. Having marched my way through various other times and places, I realized that I knew nothing about the Mongol khans. I read one novel about Genghis, and I was hooked.

My thanks go to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the review copy. You can buy this book now.

If you’re going to read a single nonfiction book about the Mongols, this would be a fine choice. Jack Weatherford’s research is outstanding, including works in several non-English languages that most of us couldn’t hope to read on our own. His scholarship is so meticulous that he has been awarded both of Mongolia’s top national awards. Not half bad, for a boy from South Carolina. And while this book is not written as narrative nonfiction, the tone is conversational, the language accessible. I read it daily at lunch time, and it wasn’t long before I was shouting out random, amazing facts to family members that dared venture into the kitchen.

It began with Genghis, a young man whose family was left homeless, left to freeze or starve when his father and protector died. With desperation, talent, and ruthlessness that he learned well, he turned it around, and as he grew up he vanquished his enemies, brought the most talented and trustworthy elements to himself, and let the devil take the rest. His instinct for military strategy was a thing of pure genius. But this book is mostly not about him; it’s about his grandson, Kublai Khan, who expanded the empire Genghis began until his domain stretched from Baghdad to the far shores of China.

Until Kublai arrived, Mongols were an inland people, but it was Kublai who realized that in order to expand and become a world power, he had to have ocean-going vessels and people that knew how to use them. The peoples of Southern China were tough to defeat, but once it was done, he was able to use their technologies in ways that were of immeasurable value.

The progression looked like this (in a very simplified version): Genghis conquered, and took no prisoners, with a few rare exceptions. Kublai conquered, but also used diplomacy, highlighting the potential benefits of becoming a Mongol subject; he didn’t routinely kill everyone he defeated. And under Kublai’s son Temur, the Mongols segued from physical battle to economic dominance, making China’s ports the ideal destination of merchants from all over the world.

One of the most interesting things I learned had to do with the authority that was vested in the women of the highest placed families. When the men rode off to conquer, it was women that looked after the business interests and saw to local governance. It worked out nicely; Europeans should have taken note.

I can’t compare this book to others because I haven’t read any others on this topic cover to cover, but I wouldn’t let that stop you. If the Mongols are persuaded that Weatherford has done the work and done it well, who can argue? I learned a great deal and enjoyed it, and so I highly recommend it to you.

An astonishing story of maritime history about a part of the world often overlooked. The book is a good launching point for further exploration on the subject.

Emperor of the Sea is an informative engaging look at Kubla Kahn someone I knew very little about.Really well written a book I really enjoyed,#netgalley#bloomsburybooks.

A very informative book with lots of research. I never knew that China had such a dominate presence on the seas. Really great!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Bloomsbury USA for an advance copy of a history book that looks at Mongol war tactics that has not been discussed much in book form, the rise of naval power, and how it changed Mongol culture and history.

My high school spent little time in discussing the Mongol invasions of Europe and Asia, even though I remember a class on Western Civilization that should have mentioned it at least slightly. The textbooks for the class were written in the Reagan era, so being so close to the Vietnam war, maybe Texas didn't want textbooks detailing Europe's near conquest from the East. I gave up wondering about my education in high school, though I do wonder if much of what I did not learn explains the world of today. My knowledge of Kublai Khan came more from the awesome, at least in my opinion, song by the progressive Canadian band Rush, "Xanadu" and the equally mesmerizing and ethereal poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge Kubla Khan, or A Vision in a Dream. Later as I read more history I learned about the Mongols, their armies, their ways of ruling, and even more about Kublai Khan. However I don't remember learning about the rise of the Mongols on the ocean, what this meant and how it changed Mongol history. Emperor of the Seas: Kublai Khan and the Making of China by educator and scholar Jack Weatherford tells of Kublai Khan, his rise to power, his interest in things far beyond empire building and how he came to see the sea as something more than a barrier, or annoyance, but as a power to be controlled.

The book begins with a history of the time, and how the Mongol empire gained and held their power. Readers learn of the battles behind the scenes for power, the poisonings, the accident that moved people in power, and the fact that women had a surprising say, and a lot of power in the courts. Kublai Kahn was the grandson of the Genghis Khan, and took much after his mother in looks and attitudes. Kublai was more of person who liked knowledge, meeting with people and learning things, rather than cross the steppes on horseback. Or even to fight the many, many wars the Mongols were in the middle of. Kublai liked to use his gout as an excuse for not leading his armies, and after a few embarrassment was assigned an older war leader and his son to actually command the armies the Kublai was given. This gave Kublai a chance to do what he did best, observe, learn, and make deals when possible. It was in battles with the armies of Vietnam that Kublai saw the power that boats gave his enemy, enabling them to move troops, supplies, and eventually retreat on waterways, that men of the steppes could not deal with. Soon Kublai was faced with a choice to grab power, pushed by the women in his life, and with a few ideas. One was of building a navy that could unleash the true power of the Mongol Empire.

A very interesting book about a whole lot of subjects. I never though I would learn about the use of paper money under the Mongols, or how much an environmental disaster building an navy could cause to an area, stripping whole forests to the ground leaving nothing even for shade as one poem put it. Weatherford is a very good writer, and one that is very familiar with his subject matter. I read this this book has been a long time in coming, and one can see why. There are plenty of notes, showing a lot of the research that Weatherford did. Weatherford is a good stylist, presenting a lot of information, but not overwhelming the reader in dull facts. I enjoyed the fact that on almost every page I could find something new and interesting.

A book for people interested in both military and cultural history of the Mongol Empire, and Europe. There have been a few new appraisals of the Mongols recently, I consider this one of the best, and most interesting. I look forward to more books by Jack Weatherford.

An informative account of the great Kublai Khan and his use of naval base warfare. From the death of his grandfather, Genghis, to the battles he fought both within the Mongol nation and against foreign foes, the author covered a great deal of the history of this great empire. A recommended read for any history buffs.

While I fashion myself a history nerd, I have to admit to knowing very little about Kublai Khan before picking up Emperor of the Seas by Jack Weatherford. In fact, if you asked me to spell it, I would have failed quite badly. Now I am educated!

Weatherford tells the story of Kublai's rise from a child to becoming, well, that is a bit complicated. First, there is a not a ton of documentation on the life of the Khan's on account of being nomadic and prone to taking over other societies. The other reason his title is complicated is that Kublai and various family members were very scattered and the question of who was truly the successor to the Great Khan was up for debate. Kublai was mainly based in China and carried with it a lot of uncertainty. Weatherford unpacks this all very well in easy to read prose and an eye for interesting detail (when it is available). Kublai would eventually create a navy with varying initial success which is unusual for a bunch of reasons that are better if Weatherford tells you.

I'd say the sole weakness of the book would be some extraneous information. A chapter on cuisine seems out of place, and there are too many chapters after Kublai's death which could have been cut or shortened. I still enjoyed the book immensely and learned quite a lot.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Bloomsbury.)

"Emperor of the Seas" by Jack Weatherford is an engaging historical account that explores the life and legacy of the legendary pirate Zheng He. Weatherford’s detailed narrative brings to light Zheng He’s remarkable maritime expeditions and his impact on global trade and diplomacy during the Ming Dynasty. The book’s vivid storytelling and thorough research offer readers a fascinating glimpse into one of history’s most influential yet often overlooked figures. It’s a compelling read for anyone interested in maritime history and the broader scope of global exploration.

I found this book to be very informative and engaging. As someone who knows very little about history at all, I feel that I was able to easily learn about the subjects presented in this book and I feel that I have an adequate understanding of what happened during Kublai’s reign. I think this book will also help me to branch out and look into other books related to this subject so that I can continue to increase my knowledge. I would be interested in reading other books from this author as well.