6. Genghis Khan

6. 成吉思汗

The name Genghis Khan probably makes many people think of conquering warriors on horseback leaving burning cities and piles of dead bodies behind them. While there is no doubt that Genghis Khan was the leader of a highly efficient killing machine, there was much more to him than military skill. He was also a talented politician with excellent diplomatic abilities.

成吉思汗之名可能会使许多人想起征伐税勇策马扬鞭，在他身后只留下焚毁的家园与遍野堆积的尸骸。无疑，成吉思汗率领着一支高效率杀戮机器般的军队，除了军事才能，他还有更多值得注目的地方。他也是位有杰出外交能力的优秀政治家。

In the 1160s, the tribes of the Central Asian steppes were almost constantly at war with one another. In the middle of the chaos, one of the tribal leaders had a son named Temujin. When the boy was nine years old, his father was poisoned by enemies. The tribe then abandoned the family, leaving them to survive by eating rats and insects.

12世纪60年代，中亚大草原的部落长年征战不休。在混乱之中，其中一个部落的首领有个儿子，名叫铁木真。在他九岁时，父亲被敌人毒害。于是该部落抛弃了这家人，他们只好靠吃老鼠与虫子才勉强度日。

Despite his difficult chi1dhood, Temujin grew up strong enough to claim his hereditary position as tribal leader. He became adept at forming alliances, as well as fighting battles. By 1206, all the Mongol tribes were ready to recognize him as supreme leader. They gave him the title Genghis Khan, which means "emperor of all emperors."

尽管童年生活很艰苦，长大后的铁木真却英勇善战，并成功夺回部落首领的世袭地位。他擅长与其他部落结盟，并精通打仗。到1206年，蒙古各部落都愿意认定他为最高统帅。他们赋予他成吉思汗的称号，意即“王中王”。

Having united the tribes of Central Asia, Genghis Khan turned his attention elsewhere. His ambition was world conquest, and he advanced at an astonishing rate. By the time of his death in 1227, he had created an empire that stretched from the Pacific coast to the Caspian Sea.

一统中亚各部落后，成吉思汗将注意力转移它处。他的雄心壮志是征服全世界，而他也以惊人的速度向目标挺进。成吉思汗于1227年逝世，到那时他已经建立了一个东起太平洋海岸西至里海的帝国。