First published by E.J. Brill (The Netherlands) in 1969 as Geschichte der Islamischen Länder, this volume is still one of the few studies to deal - authoritatively, comprehensively, and clearly to the non-specialist - with the Mongols. It provides a lucid account of the empires of the two greatest Mongol empire-builders, Jingiz (Genghis) Khan and Timur (Tamerlane), and their successor states in Western Eurasia. Arthur Waldron's new introduction discusses the contribution of the Mongols and other nomadic societies to world history.

The late Bertold Spuler (l911-1990), University of Hamburg, was one of the world's leading experts on Mongol and Muslim history. His numerous books have been translated into many languages.