Lion, the Sun and the Eternal Blue Sky: The Mongols, the Persian Empire and the West

The Mongols are often demonised for their assault on the Persian Empire. According to some sources, the destruction of Baghdad with its attendant loss of life was the greatest disaster ever to befall a country or a people. The century-long reign of the Persian Il-khans they regard as a period of oppression and economic failure, and an artistic wilderness.This book attempts to redress the balance in the Mongols' favour. It is not a work from - or for - academia. The author does not excuse Mongol excesses but argues that the Mongols were no worse than other conquerors, and a lot better than some. From the rise of Genghis Khan to the death of Il-khan Abu Sa'id in 1335, he revisits the Mongol story, their Persian adventure, and their relations with the West. The book also discusses Mongol ideas on religion, marriage and the position of women. Along the way, it introduces some of the colourful queens and empresses who supported the khans, aided their enterprise and - often enough - guided and controlled their empire.