1. The document discusses the Mongols and their leader Genghis Kahn. 2. It describes how Genghis Kahn built an extensive empire through his professional army and policies promoting global trade and religious tolerance. 3. Though the Mongols did not make technological breakthroughs, Genghis Kahn's empire connected East and West in new ways and helped inspire later European explorers like Columbus through accounts of Asia like Marco Polo's book.