Books by Michal Biran

This work examines Qaidu (1236-1301), one of the great rebels in the history of the Mongol Empire, who was the grandson of Ogedei, the son Genghis Khan had chosen to be his heir. It focuses on how, in the 1270s, Qaidu succeeded in establishing a kingdom of the house of Ogedei in central Asia.

In this novel perspective on a much-maligned figure, Michal Biran explains the monumental impact Chinggis Khan has had upon the Islamic World, both positive and negative. Often criticised as a mass-slaughterer, pillager, and arch-enemy of the faith, Biran shows that his constructive influence upon Islam was also considerable - his legacy apparent in Central Asia even today. Covering Chinggis Khan's early career, his conquests, the enduring power of his descendents, and the numerous ways he is presented in different Muslim contexts, this accessible book provides a fascinating insight into one of the most notorious men in history.