On the Trail of Genghis Khan: An Epic Journey Through the Land of the Nomads
Sep 2013 · A&C Black
4.5star
45 reviewsreport
Ebook
528
Pages
reportRatings and reviews aren’t verified Learn More
About this ebook
The relationship between man and horse on the Eurasian steppe gave rise to a succession of rich nomadic cultures. Among them were the Mongols of the thirteenth century – a small tribe, which, under the charismatic leadership of Genghis Khan, created the largest contiguous land empire in history. Inspired by the extraordinary life nomads still lead today, Tim Cope embarked on a journey that hadn't been successfully completed since those times: to travel on horseback across the entire length of the Eurasian steppe, from Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia, through Kazakhstan, Russia, Crimea and the Ukraine to the Danube River in Hungary.
From horse-riding novice to travelling three years and 10,000 kilometres on horseback, accompanied by his dog Tigon, Tim learnt to fend off wolves and would-be horse-thieves, and grapple with the extremes of the steppe as he crossed sub-zero plateaux, the scorching deserts of Kazakhstan and the high-mountain passes of the Carpathians. Along the way, he was taken in by people who taught him the traditional ways and told him their recent history: Stalin's push for industrialisation brought calamity to the steepe and forced collectivism that in Kazakhstan alone led to the loss of several million livestock and the starvation of more than a million nomads. Today Cope bears witness to how the traditional ways hang precariously in the balance in the post-Soviet world.
From horse-riding novice to travelling three years and 10,000 kilometres on horseback, accompanied by his dog Tigon, Tim learnt to fend off wolves and would-be horse-thieves, and grapple with the extremes of the steppe as he crossed sub-zero plateaux, the scorching deserts of Kazakhstan and the high-mountain passes of the Carpathians. Along the way, he was taken in by people who taught him the traditional ways and told him their recent history: Stalin's push for industrialisation brought calamity to the steepe and forced collectivism that in Kazakhstan alone led to the loss of several million livestock and the starvation of more than a million nomads. Today Cope bears witness to how the traditional ways hang precariously in the balance in the post-Soviet world.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
45 reviews
Donovan K
- Flag inappropriate
August 24, 2014
Would recommend. Hope the author continues adventuring. Go Tim!
1 person found this review helpful
Rhonda Mills
- Flag inappropriate
January 13, 2025
my favourite book of all time !!!!
Jamie MacLeod
- Flag inappropriate
August 22, 2015
An amazing tale of an amazing journey
About the author
Tim Cope, F.R.G.S., is an adventurer, author, filmmaker and
motivational speaker with a special interest in Central Asia and the states
of the former Soviet Union. He has studied as a wilderness guide in the
Finnish and Russian subarctic, ridden a bicycle across Russia to China,
and rowed a boat along the Yenisey River through Siberia to the Arctic
Ocean. He is the author of Off the Rails: Moscow to Beijing on
Recumbent Bikes. He is the creator of several documentary films,
including the award-winning series 'The Trail of Genghis Khan', which
covers the journey of this book. He lives in Victoria, Australia. www.timcopejourneys.com
motivational speaker with a special interest in Central Asia and the states
of the former Soviet Union. He has studied as a wilderness guide in the
Finnish and Russian subarctic, ridden a bicycle across Russia to China,
and rowed a boat along the Yenisey River through Siberia to the Arctic
Ocean. He is the author of Off the Rails: Moscow to Beijing on
Recumbent Bikes. He is the creator of several documentary films,
including the award-winning series 'The Trail of Genghis Khan', which
covers the journey of this book. He lives in Victoria, Australia. www.timcopejourneys.com
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
