Grandson of the feared Mongol warlord Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan inherited a vast empire and then doubled its size. This biography examines how Kublai's childhood influenced his later embrace of Chinese culture as emperor of China. After defeating his brother Ariq Böke in the Toluid Civil War, Kublai became Great Khan. Thanks to the stability of his rule and the sponsorship of his administration, the Mongol Empire saw economic, social, and cultural advancements that were well ahead of much of the world.