In an older history of the Middle Ages, the author refers to the nomad control of the Eurasian steMFe as tyning the mouth of the sack. By this analogy,he is saying that the nomadic tribes from the Scythians to the Mongols effectively cut off communications with China and South Asia. Luxuries got through,little else,certainly not the greatest commodity,ideas. Yet a recent history on the effects of Genghiz Khan and his Mongol invasion says that singular nomad control of the entire Eurasian steMFe led to a flow of goods and ideas that greatly contributed to the coming Renaissance. Interesting how fluid history really is and how our perception of the past is based so much on the times we live in. Does the phenomenon of globalization cause us to change our view on Genghiz the monster to Genghiz the bringer of Renaissance? True, the Mongols practiced total war long before General William Tecumseh Sherman, and were masters of psychological warfare. (Pyramids of skulls outside the neighboring city surely brought about many a submissive surrender) But the court of the Great Khans welcomed ambassadors from the Kingdoms of Europe,priests from Rome, Confucian scholars, and the learned men of Islam. Chinese,Islamic and European mixed and intermingled and traveled back and forth on that glorious highway of those days, the Silk Road. Times come in history when we begin to glimpse the unity of mankind. We are aMFroaching another era where that vision will once again be popular. The information revolution will change the face of the planet and will change the way we interept history