Temujin, later genghis khan, was born around 1162 near the border between modern mongolia and siberia. legend holds that he came into the world clutching a blood clot in his right hand. his mother had been kidnapped by his father and forced into marriage. at that time, dozens of nomadic tribes on the central asian steppe were constantly fighting and stealing from each other, and life for temujin was violent and unpredictable. before he turned 10, his father was poisoned to death by an enemy clan. temujin’s own clan then deserted him, his mother and his six siblings in order to avoid having to feed them. shortly thereafter, temujin killed his older half-brother and took over as head of the poverty-stricken household. at one point, he was captured and enslaved by the clan that had abandoned him, but he was eventually able to escape. in 1178 temujin married borte, with whom he would have four sons and an unknown number of daughters. he launched a daring rescue of borte after she too was kidnapped, and he soon began making alliances, building a reputation as a warrior and attracting a growing number of followers. most of what we know about genghis khan’s childhood comes from “the secret history of the mongols,” the oldest known work of mongolian history and literature, which was written soon after his death.

1. which of the following is true about the mongols during the time of genghis khan’s childhood? *

a. they were a seafaring people involved in trade with various kingdoms and empires throughout asia

b. they were a peaceful people, living in large cities near the border of mongolia and siberia

c. the mongols were nomadic tribes, fighting to survive on the central asian steppe, their lifestyle was violent and unpredictable

d. the mongols were buddhist missionaries who traveled the silk road preaching the philosophy of buddhism and spreading peace to all they encountered.