Mongolia

Lore & Background

The territory of modern-day Mongolia has been ruled by various nomadic empires, including the Xiongnu, the Xianbei, the Rouran, the First Turkic Khaganate, the Second Turkic Khaganate, the Uyghur Khaganate and others. In 1206, Genghis Khan founded the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous land empire in history. His grandson Kublai Khan conquered China proper and established the Yuan dynasty. After the collapse of the Yuan, the Mongols retreated to Mongolia and resumed their earlier pattern of factional conflict, except during the era of Dayan Khan and Tumen Zasagt Khan. In the 16th century, Tibetan Buddhism spread to Mongolia. The Qing dynasty absorbed the country in the 17th century. By the early 20th century, almost one-third of the adult male population were Buddhist monks. After the collapse of the Qing dynasty in 1911, Mongolia declared independence and achieved actual independence from the Republic of China in 1921. Shortly thereafter, the country became a satellite state of the Soviet Union. In 1924, the Mongolian People's Republic was founded as a socialist state. After the anti-communist revolutions of 1989, Mongolia conducted its own peaceful democratic revolution in 1990. This led to a multi-party system, a new constitution of 1992, and transition to a market economy.

In Their Own Story

The wind didn't just blow across the steppe; it roared, carrying the scent of sun-baked grass and the distant promise of a storm. An old herder tugged his woolen deel tight against the chill, guiding his horse toward a scattered constellation of white gers glowing like pearls in the valley floor. Above, the sky was a relentless, piercing azure so deep it felt heavy enough to crush the horizon. In the distance, the rhythmic thunder of hooves announced a caravan returning from the Gobi, their Bactrian camels swaying under loads of raw wool and salt blocks. Here, time refused to be measured by clocks; instead, it flowed with the migration of herds and the turning of prayer wheels caught in the gale.

Reader's Guide

Approximately 30% of the population is nomadic or semi-nomadic; horse culture remains integral. Mahayana Buddhism is the majority religion (51.7%), with the irreligious being the second-largest group (40.6%). Islam is the third-largest religious identification (3.2%), concentrated among ethnic Kazakhs. The vast majority of citizens are ethnic Mongols, with roughly 5% of the population being Kazakhs, Tuvans, and other ethnic minorities, who are especially concentrated in the western regions. Mongolia is a member of the United Nations, Asia Cooperation Dialogue, G77, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Non-Aligned Movement and a NATO global partner. Mongolia joined the World Trade Organization in 1997 and seeks to expand its participation in regional economic and trade groups.

Did You Know?

• Mongolia is the second largest landlocked nation after Kazakhstan.
• The name Mongolia means the 'Land of the Mongols' in Latin.
• The Khoit Tsenkher Cave in Khovd Province features paintings dated to 20,000 years ago.
• The Mongol Empire founded by Genghis Khan in 1206 became the largest contiguous land empire in history.