Quick quiz: A name you closely associate with The Renaissance is…

a) Michelangelo
b) Leonardo da Vinci
c) Genghis Khan

Yeah. Me neither.  But it turns out Genghis Khan, the ruthless, bloodthirsty creator of an empire that spanned Asia and Europe, also laid the foundations for the Renaissance, according to China’s news agency.

Xinhua quotes a historian who praises Genghis Khan’s technological advancements and ”cultural progress,”  and makes him sound like a combination of Daniel Boone, George Washington Carver and Ben Franklin. 

Who knew? China has made other unusual historical claims in the past, among other things contending the Chinese invented football and golf. Here’s the story: 

Mongolians perform a traditional ritual as part of the opening events of the Naadam festival in Ulan Bator July 10, 2006. This year’s festival is bigger than ever, as Mongolia celebrates 800 years since Genghis Khan united the nation. REUTERS/Nir Elias