6. Genghis Khan
6. 成吉思汗
The name Genghis Khan probably makes many people think of conquering warriors on horseback leaving burning cities and piles of dead bodies behind them. While there is no doubt that Genghis Khan was the leader of a highly efficient killing machine, there was much more to him than military skill. He was also a talented politician with excellent diplomatic abilities.
成吉思汗之名可能會(huì)使許多人想起征伐稅勇策馬揚(yáng)鞭,在他身后只留下焚毀的家園與遍野堆積的尸骸。無疑,成吉思汗率領(lǐng)著一支高效率殺戮機(jī)器般的軍隊(duì),除了軍事才能,他還有更多值得注目的地方。他也是位有杰出外交能力的優(yōu)秀政治家。
In the 1160s, the tribes of the Central Asian steppes were almost constantly at war with one another. In the middle of the chaos, one of the tribal leaders had a son named Temujin. When the boy was nine years old, his father was poisoned by enemies. The tribe then abandoned the family, leaving them to survive by eating rats and insects.
12世紀(jì)60年代,中亞大草原的部落長(zhǎng)年征戰(zhàn)不休。在混亂之中,其中一個(gè)部落的首領(lǐng)有個(gè)兒子,名叫鐵木真。在他九歲時(shí),父親被敵人毒害。于是該部落拋棄了這家人,他們只好靠吃老鼠與蟲子才勉強(qiáng)度日。
Despite his difficult chi1dhood, Temujin grew up strong enough to claim his hereditary position as tribal leader. He became adept at forming alliances, as well as fighting battles. By 1206, all the Mongol tribes were ready to recognize him as supreme leader. They gave him the title Genghis Khan, which means "emperor of all emperors."
盡管童年生活很艱苦,長(zhǎng)大后的鐵木真卻英勇善戰(zhàn),并成功奪回部落首領(lǐng)的世襲地位。他擅長(zhǎng)與其他部落結(jié)盟,并精通打仗。到1206年,蒙古各部落都愿意認(rèn)定他為最高統(tǒng)帥。他們賦予他成吉思汗的稱號(hào),意即“王中王”。
Having united the tribes of Central Asia, Genghis Khan turned his attention elsewhere. His ambition was world conquest, and he advanced at an astonishing rate. By the time of his death in 1227, he had created an empire that stretched from the Pacific coast to the Caspian Sea.
一統(tǒng)中亞各部落后,成吉思汗將注意力轉(zhuǎn)移它處。他的雄心壯志是征服全世界,而他也以驚人的速度向目標(biāo)挺進(jìn)。成吉思汗于1227年逝世,到那時(shí)他已經(jīng)建立了一個(gè)東起太平洋海岸西至里海的帝國(guó)。