Genghis Khan was a brilliant leader who made many positive contributions to Asia. He unified the Mongol clan, conquered and stabilized the Central Asian plateau, and instituted languages, laws, and reforms throughout Asia. However, these contributions came at a high cost. Before Genghis Khan, the Central Asian plateau was in disarray. Using his extraordinary political manipulation skills and his powerful army, he quickly gained power. He believed that under his control he could unite the Mongol clan and conquer the Central Asian plateau. He manipulated his allies and deceived his enemies with his great army. Within 20 years it controlled much of the Central Asian plateau. He not only managed to realize his dream of controlling the Central Asian plateau, but also contributed to the culture and economy. While his legacy includes rapid and often brutal domination of much of Asia, this has not overshadowed his many positive contributions. When Genghis Khan was born in 1161, the Central Asian plateau was full of nomadic hunters and herders from scattered tribes with traditional traditions. economies. They had to grow their own food, build their own homes, and make their own tools. The only trade that occurred was between clans united by alliance. (Goldberg 23)Genghis Khan's rise began with personal tragedy, when the Tatar clan poisoned his father. In the Mongolian tribes, family ties were essential. After his father's death, with no more family ties to his tribe, the tribe abandoned his family. After his brother's death in a hunting accident, he became the head of his family. For several years his family survived by hunting, gathering and herding. After a period of surviving on their own, ree...... half way...... economies and trade relationships, developed their governments, integrated their culture, ended the warfare between the highland tribes and stabilized the tribes of the great plateau of Central Asia. Works Cited "Battle Tactics." Genghis Khan. Network. March 13, 2014. "Genghis Khan and the Creation of the Modern World." Diplo Foundation. Network. March 11, 2014. Goldberg, Enid A., and Norman Itzkowitz. Genghis Khan: 13th century Mongol tyrant. New York: Franklin Watts, 2008. Print."Mongols in World History | Asian Topics in World History." The Mongols in world history | Asian Topics in World History. Network. March 14. 2014. .