Mongol

Mongols

250px Map of the Mongol Empire at its greatest extent
Total population
Approximately 10 million
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Mongolic languages
Religion
Tibetan Buddhism, Shamanism, Islam

The Mongols are a Central and Northern Asian ethnic group native to Mongolia and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China. They are historically known for establishing the largest contiguous empire in history, the Mongol Empire, under the leadership of Genghis Khan in the 13th century.

History

The Mongols originated as a confederation of nomadic tribes in the steppes of Central Asia. In the early 13th century, Temüjin, later known as Genghis Khan, united these tribes and began a series of military campaigns that expanded Mongol control across Asia and into Europe. The Mongol Empire facilitated trade and cultural exchange across the Silk Road, connecting the East and West.

Mongol Empire

The Mongol Empire (1206–1368) was founded by Genghis Khan and expanded by his successors, including Ögedei Khan, Kublai Khan, and others. At its height, the empire stretched from Eastern Europe to the Sea of Japan, encompassing large parts of Siberia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and China.

Post-Empire Period

After the fragmentation of the Mongol Empire, several successor states emerged, including the Yuan Dynasty in China, the Ilkhanate in Persia, the Chagatai Khanate in Central Asia, and the Golden Horde in Eastern Europe. The Mongols continued to influence the regions they controlled, contributing to cultural and technological exchanges.

Culture

Mongol culture is deeply rooted in nomadic traditions, with a strong emphasis on horsemanship, archery, and pastoralism. The traditional Mongol dwelling is the ger (also known as a yurt), a portable, round tent covered with skins or felt.

Language

The primary language of the Mongols is Mongolian, which belongs to the Mongolic language family. The traditional script is the Mongolian script, although the Cyrillic script is also used in modern Mongolia.

Religion

Historically, the Mongols practiced Tengrism, a form of shamanism. With the expansion of the Mongol Empire, many Mongols adopted Tibetan Buddhism, which remains the dominant religion among Mongols today. There are also Muslim Mongols, particularly among the Kazakh and Tuvan populations.

Genetics

Genetic studies have shown that the Mongols are closely related to other Central Asian and Siberian populations. The Y-chromosome haplogroup C3 is prevalent among Mongols, which is associated with the descendants of Genghis Khan.

Also see

• Genghis Khan
• Mongol Empire
• Yuan Dynasty
• Tibetan Buddhism
• Silk Road

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