The historical figure who founded the Mongol Empire was Genghis Khan, born as Temüjin around 1162. He united the nomadic tribes of the Mongolian plateau and established the Mongol Empire by 1206, which became the largest contiguous empire in world history after his death. Genghis Khan implemented innovative military strategies and organized his forces into highly mobile units. His conquests extended across Asia and into Eastern Europe, facilitating trade and cultural exchanges across the territories he ruled. His legacy is complex, as he is both revered for his leadership and seen as a harbinger of destruction and conquest.