ABSTRACT
The primary figure in the history of the Mongol Empire is Chinggis Khan. Without the rise of Temujin, the man who became Chinggis Khan, it is unlikely that there would have been a Mongol Empire. His efforts not only unified the various tribal confederations of the Mongolian steppe, but his reforms to society and steppe warfare transformed the Mongol Empire from just another steppe empire into an entity whose vibrations are still felt today. Yet, it was hardly apparent to anyone that Temujin would become one of the most important figures in history or that the Mongol Empire would be more than an ephemeral steppe polity with fleeting regional influence rather than a hyper-power extending across most of Eurasia and influencing the world centuries after his death. It is also apparent that Temujin gained more military training and experience while in the Jin Empire as his ability as a leader and commander substantially improved when he returned.
