The rise and fall of the second largest empire in history : how Genghis Khan's Mongols almost conquered the world / Thomas J. Craughwell.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Family tree -- Introduction -- The Asian Steppes: an intensely hostile world -- The savage boyhood of Temüjin -- A friendless boy's first allies -- Temüjin's first battle -- The showdown that made Temüjin a Khan -- Temüjin becomes Genghis Khan and the Mongol nation is born -- The nomads conquer an empire -- Northern China falls to the Mongols -- Ghengis Khan invades the Muslim world -- The Mongol style of warfare -- The passing of Genghis Khan -- "The Devil's Horsemen" invade Europe -- How one man's death saved Europe from destruction -- Rifts in the family -- The rise of Kublai Khan and the breakup of Genghis Khan's empire -- The first Mongol emperor of China -- Epilogue -- Bibliography -- Acknowledgements -- About the author -- Index.