Dan Carlin’s epic 15 hour audio book on the Mongol Khans is the single best treatment of this subject I have had the shocking pleasure of enjoying. Dan’s unifying theory is the study of what he calls ‘historical arsonists’ of which Genghis Khan was by far the most accomplished. No man engineered more death, more rape, controlled more territory, or has more living descendents than this savage horseman. Only Stalin comes close in terms of body count. And Stalin can scarcely be credited with conquering the territory that was the Soviet Union.

Dan marshals dozens of primary and secondary sources, selecting quotes with alacrity, to paint a portrait of the Mongol conquests and dynasts that is unparalleled in its insight. Mister Carlin brings to life this horrific and amazing spasm in human history that transformed the world [it was the eventual reason for the great plague that wiped out a third of Europe] and ignited European curiosity about the East Asian World, which might as well have been an alien planet in medieval times.

Dan refers to his work as podcasts or ‘history shows’. I have a hard time believing that he is winging this. He is either a genius or is reading a written work. I therefore classify his work as audio books. In any case he has the narrative flare to carry what is the biggest bloodiest episode in history outside of WWII. The asides, such as alcoholism among the Khans, make for an entertaining walk along one of the darker corridors of history.

This series is in five episodes. The first three episodes cover the career of Genghis Khan. The last two episodes are dedicated to his successors. Episode Four sees the full development of Dan’s ‘historical arsonist’ theory of history, a theory for which Genghis and his sons are the perfect poster children. Genghis Khan, alone among great conquerors, managed to put in place a system that would outlive him and survive, and even thrive, under his drunken and murderous descendents.

Dan does a great job of making sure we understand the vast human cost of the Mongol conquests as well as the unique character and qualities of its perpetrators. His narrative brings to light the danger of buying into traditional or revisionist history.

I cannot recommend this series enough.

This podcast series can by found on Dan Carlin's Hardcore History site through our network page.