On the Trail of Genghis Khan (ATOM Study Guide)

When hunter-gatherers of the vast Eurasian steppe first leapt onto the backs of wild horses about 5,500 years ago a revolution in human history was born. For thousands of years thereafter nomads galloped into Europe on a collision course with sedentary society and catapulted the world into the first era of global colonisation.

Among the many nomad rulers of the steppe was Genghis Khan, a poor Mongolian herder, who went on to found the largest empire in history. Today half of the world's population live in lands that were once ruled by the legendary mounted warriors and the steppe of Eurasia is a wondrous tapestry of nomadic nations reviving the spirit of their ancestors as they struggle back from the shadow of the Soviet era. But the story of the steppe nomad remains untold, obscured by the enduring belief that they are uncivilised barbarians from 'God-forsaken' lands.

Who are the so called 'barbarians'? How did the Eurasian steppe and the horse shape the destiny of the world? What can we learn about ourselves today from the nomads?

For Tim Cope the only way to answer these questions was to ride by horse 10,000 kilometres from the former Mongolian Empire capital, Karakorum, to the Danube River guided by an old Kazakh wisdom – 'to understand the wolf, you must put the skin of a wolf on and look through its eyes.'

When Tim set out alone there was no certainty – no backup from a camera crew, no escape route – and he could barely ride a horse. Ahead lay wolf-infested plateaux, the glaciated Altai mountains, minus fifty degree temperatures on the 'starving steppe', scorching heat in the Kazakh desert, violent clashes between sedentary and nomadic societies, and the deep forests and treacherous peaks of the Carpathians. The journey promised to take him more than 10,000 kilometres and three and a half years across the breadth of the Eurasian steppe through the fence-free lands of Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kalmykia, Southern Russia, Crimea, Ukraine, and Hungary. These are diverse nations linked by nomadic roots and the sacred role of the horse.

The extreme challenges gave him empathy and insight into the nomadic way of life. As he wizened each 'steppe' of the way locals began to greet him as a folk hero whose journey embodied their national heritage. Hundreds of families welcomed Tim with his horses and dog 'Tigon,' treated them with traditional nomad hospitality, and taught Tim the way of the steppe.

Every day on the trail Tim faced danger and uncertainty but the most difficult challenge was when he learned that his father was tragically killed in a car accident. Tim drew deeply on what the nomads had taught him about the transience of life.

By the time Tim arrived on the Danube, he was welcomed by diplomats and world media for having achieved the first lone crossing of the steppe in modern times. He had learned from the nomads that the challenge of the future for them, like for us, is to balance traditional knowledge of the land with the aspirations and needs of a fast-changing, modern world.

Curriculum links

This study guide is mainly aimed at middle and upper secondary school levels, with relevance to English, Media Studies, History, SOSE/HSIE, Cultural Studies, International Politics, Personal and Interpersonal Development, Outdoor Education, Environmental Studies.