[desertblues]

Every half year or so I hear from someone who has influenced the change from the medieval period into the Renaissance. Last month when I was in Uzbekistan I was told that Timur Lenk (Tamarlane) influenced Renaissance.....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timur

Spoiler:

Timur arguably had the most impact on the Renaissance culture and early modern Europe. Timur's achievements have both fascinated and horrified Europeans from the fifteenth century to the early nineteenth century.
European views of Timur were mixed throughout the fifteenth century with some European countries calling him an ally, while others saw him as a threat to Europe because of his rapid expansion and brutality.
When Timur took down the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid at Ankara, he was often praised and seen as a trusted ally by European rulers such as Charles VI of France and Henry IV of England because they believe he was saving Christianity from the Turkish Empire in the Middle East. Charles VI of France and Henry IV of England also praised Timur because his victory at Ankara allowed Christian merchants to remain in the Middle East and allowed for their safe return back home to both France and England. Timur was also praised because it is believed that he helped restore the right of passage for Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land.
Some European countries viewed Timur as a barbaric enemy who presented a threat to both European culture and the religion of Christianity. Timur's rise to power moved many leaders, such as Henry III of Castille, to send embassies to Samarkand to personally scout out Timur, learn about his people, make alliances with him and to try to convince him to convert to Christianity in order to avoid war.

I am certainly curious what the writer of the Swerve has to say about it all, and I will read the book.
But having said this; there is a fine selection this month and I think Hella Haasse's book ' The Tea Lords' is an outstanding novel, so I'm hoping for that one.