He was the founder of the Mongol Empire and became famous for his extreme cruelty. People saw him as a symbol of death and destruction.

Genghis Khan and his army killed so many people that farming stopped in large areas. Because no one was growing crops, forests began to grow again. Scientists believe this caused the Earth's temperature to drop.

Towers made of human heads

Whenever Genghis Khan's army captured a city, they would cut off the heads of the people they killed and build tall towers and pyramids with them. These "towers of skulls" were made to spread fear and force other cities to surrender.

In one shocking incident, the ruler of a city killed Genghis Khan's grandson. In anger, Genghis Khan changed the direction of a river to flood the entire city. He destroyed it so completely that even today, no one is sure exactly where it was.

16 million descendants

Genghis Khan was also known for his violence against women during his conquests. A scientific study found that today, one in every 200 men in the world is a direct descendant of Genghis Khan. This means around 16 million men carry his genes.

The secret of his tomb

Even after his death, Genghis Khan wanted to remain hidden. He made sure no one would ever find his grave. Anyone who saw his funeral procession was killed. The soldiers who buried him were also killed by other soldiers so the location of his tomb would stay a secret forever. Till today, no one has been able to find his real tomb.