Empire on Horseback: Genghis Khan and the Mongols
February 22-23, 2008
Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

In the 13th century, Genghis (Chingis) Khan (Universal Ruler) led a nomadic East Asiatic people in the creation of the largest contiguous empire in the history of the world. In the wake of his military victories, the essence of Asian culture spread throughout the conquered lands, the Silk Road that linked China via Central Asia to Europe was reopened, papermaking and printing technologies were introduced to the West, and a comprehensive communications network was established (one of whose imitators, centuries later, was America's Pony Express). Although his reputation as a brutal warrior is infamous, in recent years the contributions of his Empire in art, science, religious tolerance, commerce and politics, as well as military strategy, have gained more recognition. An able administrator himself, Genghis Khan, his sons and grandsons ruled the region from China to Europe for 150 years.

Visit the Humanities West website for a full schedule of lectures: http://www.humanitieswest.org/current.html#programTwo

Humanities West presents a wide-ranging series of lectures and performances encompassing the fine arts, social history, music, politics, and philosophy of the arts. Since 1983 these interdisciplinary programs have been designed to entertain and educate diverse audiences in an effort to illuminate and elevate the human spirit through exploration of the many sources of modern culture.