Known to be the largest contiguous empire in history, the Mongol Empire at its height stretched from the Sea of Japan to Eastern Europe. It extended northwards into parts of the Arctic, southward into the Indian subcontinent, and was suspected to cover some 9 million square miles (23 million square kilometres).It is an almost unrivalled example of imperialism, military prowess and decentralised rule. In A Very Brief History of the Mongol Empire , acclaimed historian Dr Timothy May tells the entire story of Imperial Rome, from its initial conquests across China to its slow fading from the world. This fascinating and entertaining book takes the reader on a journey, beginning with the rise of the one man popularly known as the leader of the Mongols, and why he should really be known as Chinggis Khan. It looks at how he built an empire through wars, marriages and intrigue, and how fear became one of his greatest weapons. And it studies, in the aftermath of the great khan's death, the successors that followed and who introduced the instruments that would maintain and grow the empire. Stretching across centuries and continents, this is a history riven with political turmoil, civil wars, assassination plots and power struggles for the ultimate prize.

This is the incredible story of the Mongol Empire in one book.