Ancient China
The story of Genghis Khan takes place in a very different world. By helping the reader to understand the times, Weatherford sets the stage for the historical drama that Genghis Khan's life entails. The ancient world was one of long-standing traditions and ancient ways. The tribal imagery is an important part of understanding the way China was before Khan's rise to power. Instead of picturing China as a massive nation-state, the author encourages an understanding of China as it was, tribal and pluralistic.
The outcast
Through imagery, we see what kind of a person Genghis Khan was. He was a reject, cast out from his tribe. The imagery of the outsider shows that Genghis Khan was not built to obey traditional ideas, nor was his community able to handle him. His power is clear from this, because he was rejected as a threat to the status quo. His role as the outsider is the role that builds him into a conquerer, but not until his political enemies kidnap his wife, inciting him to war.
War and empire
Genghis Khan begins his war by overthrowing the communities around him. He starts with his enemies, overthrowing their petty kingdoms in rage after saving his wife. Then, he gains influence and his campaign grows. His army grows as he continues through China, overthrowing the Manchurians. He overthrows the Khwarazm empire and tries to overthrow the Sung dynasty of China, but fails. By the end of his life, he has built an empire like the world has never seen.
Time and generations
Although this story takes place in the ancient far East, it is still relevant today, the author maintains. The imagery of time and generations shows that although these stories seem perfectly detached from the modern world, they are in fact continuous with it. This imagery shows that the Mongolian empire is historical fact. Khan's lineage is still around expression today, and many people have him as an ancestor. His generations didn't maintain empire forever, but for a while they did.
