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

Bold, B. (Bat-Ochiryn)

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.

Territorial hierarchy

Districts

Provinces

Taxation and public income

External relations

Prophets and ascetics

Mongolia