Emperor of the seas: The life and times of Kublai Khan

A little bit of background📃

Emperor of the seas: Kublai Khan and the making of China | Published January 2024 | Read March 2026

The author✏️

Jack Weatherford (born 1946) is an American anthropologist and the DeWitt Wallace Professor of Anthropology at Macalester College in Minnesota. He is something of an expert on Genghis Khan, having published several books on the notorious historical figure. For this work, Weatherford was awarded the Order of the Polar Star in 2006 and the Order of Genghis Khan in 2022, two of Mongolia's highest national honours. Professor Weatherford is also published on the subject of Native American cultures.. He is known for shining the spotlight on overlooked histories and building understanding of the evolving dynamics of power throughout history.

The subject matterℹ️

The book's blurb states that Emperor of the seas is based on ten years of research and certainly Weatherford has the credentials to present a thorough picture of Genghis Khan's grandson after a career built on immersion in Mongol culture and traditions. History tells us that Genghis Khan built a formidable land empire, but he never crossed the sea. His lesser known grandson, Kublai Khan, succeeded where his grandfather did not by defeating the last vestiges of the Song empire and established the Yuan dynasty in 1279. These successes meant that the Mongols once controlled the most powerful navy in the world. Kublai Khan's reign saw the Chinese building and supplying remarkable ships to transport men, grain, and weapons over vast distances, of a size and dexterity that would be inconceivable in Europe for hundreds of years.

Kublai Khan is one of history's most fascinating characters even though he is lesser known that his infamous grandfather. Kublai Khan brought Islamic mathematicians to his court, where they invented modern cartography and celestial measurement. He was instrumental in the invention of paper money, transforming a huge chunk of Asia into a unified, diverse and economically progressive empire. Khan realised that if you control the seas, you control everything, and set about to transform China into a major player on the world's stage and successful sea-faring empire.

My thoughts on the book💭

I am happy to admit that I knew almost nothing of Kublai Khan before reading Emperor of the seas. All that I know of Mongol history is confined to a basic understanding of Genghis Khan. Weatherford presents an impeccably researched book that had me completely immersed in the history it covers. I struggled a bit with the military parts of it - warships and battles and the like - but generally found the book to be accessible and easy to digest. I did have to come to grips with all the players - the network of Khan's family who ruled over different parts of China and Mongolia - and I did find all the names a little confusing at times. That said, I loved being part of Kublai Khan's journey and my own journey to much better understanding of the history of the part of the world that isn't often centred.

Knowing a little of the barbarity of Genghis Khan's rule, it was somewhat refreshing to read about his grandson's more cerebral approach, using diplomacy to conquer and reach his goals. It was interesting to see Weatherford tackle the common perception of the Mongols as a violent horde. He could be accused of overstating his claims in this respect, but it was still fascinating to read a different take on Mongol history.

Oh, and I cheered on the regular at the role of women in Mongol society then, where women were given the power and authority to oversee business and local governance while the men went to war.

The transformation of China from a land to a sea power was also something I knew nothing about. The book's strength lies in this narrative although the book could have benefitted from further editing to tighten it up.

In sum📝

I am thoroughly enjoying my renaissance as a history nerd, with the time and headspace to read more widely than my previous studies (and life commitments) have allowed. I feel both humbled and educated by my reading experience of Emperor of the seas.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐