Book

Mongolian nomadic society: a reconstruction of the 'medieval' history of Mongolia

Curzon (83) • Published In 2001 • Pages: xvii, 204

By: Bold, B. (Bat-Ochiryn).

Abstract
This is a study of Mongolian nomadic society, which the author argues constitutes a unique social system. Bold examines the constitutive economic, social, political, and religious elements of nomadic society and its evolution from the time of Genghis Khaan in the12th century to the Manchurian conquest in the 18th century. Bold discusses how a herding, nomadic way of life was the only way for people to survive on the steppe and how tribal organization best suited a lifestyle based on spatial mobility. Bold points to long-term droughts as the impetus for migration and invasion of neighboring sedentary societies. Worship of the 'eternally blue sky' also suited long-distance migrations. Accoridng to Bold, the mobile herding lifestyle with its demands for flexibility, independence, and initiative accounts for the Mongolian success at war. Bold questions theories about Mongolian feudalism in a society in which there was no ownership of land and herding was organized by multiple households working together cooperatively.
Subjects
Annual cycle
Pastoral activities
Classes
Household
Community structure
Territorial hierarchy
Districts
Provinces
Taxation and public income
External relations
Prophets and ascetics
culture
Mongolia
HRAF PubDate
2006
Region
Asia
Sub Region
Central Asia
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Historian
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
Analyst
Ian Skoggard ; 2005
Field Date
no date
Coverage Date
1100-1800
Coverage Place
Mongolia
Notes
Bat-Ochir Bold
Includes bibliographical references (p. 179-198) and index
LCSH
Mongolia