Why does Weatherford make Genghis Khan the central figure of his history, rather than, say, Khubilai? Does Genghis Khan seem the most responsible for the innovations brought about by Mongol rule, or do his descendants bear more responsibility? Is Genghis Khan’s establishment of the empire more significant than his descendants’ roles in maintaining, changing, and expanding it?

In what ways did traditional Mongol ideas of family relationships shape the structure—and history—of their empire?

Do you accept Weatherford’s premise that Europe gained the most from the Mongol expansion as it was a trading partner, but not a casualty of, the vast Mongol empire?