Conquering the North: China, Russia, Mongolia: 2,000 Years of Conflict

by John Man, Nigel Patterson (Read by)

Overview

A panoramic history of the roots of China and Mongolia's historic rivalry—and why it matters today.

The Great Wall of China—stretching from the arid rises of Gansu province to the cold waters of the Bohai Sea—remains an enduring symbol of Chinese might. And yet for all its grandeur, the Wall also marks a vulnerability: an ever-present reminder of old battlelines and never-ending tension with China's northern neighbors.

Travelling by sacred mountains and along forgotten trade routes, John Man journeys through China and Mongolia, tracing the contours of their uneasy shared histories. From the tumult of the Warring States Period to the present day, Man weaves a thrilling tale of battling warlords, imperial power plays, Soviet interference and contemporary political maneuvering.

Looking to the future of the region, Conquering the North canvasses the still fractious interplay of two rival cultures and the continuing struggle for Mongolian sovereignty as China continues to edge north.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798228659278
Publisher:	Tantor
Publication date:	12/02/2025
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.50(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

John Man is a historian specializing in Mongolia and the relationship between Mongol and Chinese cultures. He studied Mongolian as a post-graduate, and after a brief career in journalism and publishing, he turned to writing. John's books have been published in over twenty languages around the world and include bestselling biographies of Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan, and Attila the Hun, as well as histories of the Great Wall of China and the Mongolian Empire.

Editorial Reviews

"Fascinating stories told exquisitely. His commentary reads like a fever dream. Enlightening and poignant."

The Times (UK)

"A beguiling blend of history and intimate narrative – and a delight to read."

Colin Thubron

"We knew more about the Mongols in the 13th century when they battered the gates of Prague and Vienna. John Man fills the knowledge gap with a thought-provoking guide to Mongolia’s history since then, its ancient deserts, grasslands, and forests caught now between Russia and China."

Frances Wood

"John Man is a historian who masterfully blends meticulous research with the art of storytelling. In Conquering the North, he unearths a treasure trove of gripping narratives and captivating characters. Man’s storytelling doesn’t just illuminate history; it pulses with life, weaving tales that linger long after the page is turned. Conquering the North evokes the spirit of The Great Game, offering a narrative that is as educational as it is thoroughly entertaining."

Lijia Zhang

"The complex, epic story of China's relations with Russia and Mongolia over the last two millennia has shaped not just the Asian region, but the rest of the world. John Man's highly readable account of how nomadic peoples pitted themselves against farm settlers, and the steppes fought against cities, achieves the miraculous feat of making sense of this multilayered story while also making it accessible. He is a guide par excellence of a history everyone should know. An excellent book."

Kerry Brown

"John Man lets us experience history—the sights, the smell, the taste, and the touch. After a lifetime of research on the ground in northern Asia, he is the perfect guide to the contentious issues that plague China’s northern borders in the past and the present. He specializes in the overlooked places where cultures collide, where societies meet, and where real history is born. His words live, and he shows us how history survives in the lives of the people in these places today."

Jack Weatherford

"China quarrels with the West but expands to the north. Not everything north of China is Russia, writes historian Mann. Much of it is Mongolia. Beginning in the centuries before the common era, [Mann] recounts the history of China’s growth. The 3.5 million Mongolians to the north have no interest in joining the 6 million already under Chinese rule, but this is a decision for China’s leaders to make. Manifest destiny, the Chinese version."

Kirkus Reviews

"A beguiling blend of history and intimate narrative – and a delight to read."

author of Shadow of the Silk Road Colin Thubron

"John Man is a historian who masterfully blends meticulous research with the art of storytelling. In Conquering the North, he unearths a treasure trove of gripping narratives and captivating characters. Man’s storytelling doesn’t just illuminate history; it pulses with life, weaving tales that linger long after the page is turned. Conquering the North evokes the spirit of The Great Game, offering a narrative that is as educational as it is thoroughly entertaining."

author of Lotus Lijia Zhang