Rashid al-Din: The First Universal Historian J.J. Saunders describes how a Persian servant of the Mongol Khans wrote the first truly global history. J.J. Saunders | Published in History Today Volume 21 Issue 7 July 1971 To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5. Start my trial subscription now If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in. Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems. Middle EastIranHistoriography Popular articles Is it Possible to Forgive and Forget? Doc Holliday: The Perennial Sidekick