Lane (history of the Middle East and Central Asia, School of Oriental and African Studies, U. of London, UK) reconstructs the daily life of the Mongol Empire, which spanned across Eastern Europe and Asia in the 13th and 14th centuries. Following a historical review of the rise and fall of the empire, he presents 11 chapters on steppe life, appearance, dwellings, the army, health and medicine, drinking and the Mongols, food, religion and the Mongols, law and Mongol rule, women and the Mongols, and folktales from Mongolia. This is a paperbound edition of a work first published in 2006. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)