Mongolia – from the steppe empire of Genghis Khan to a modern democracy
The vast steppes of Mongolia have been home to nomadic herders for thousands of years. Powerful confederations such as the Xiongnu and later several Turkic and Uyghur khaganates rose and fell here, shaping the history of Inner Asia.
In 1206 Temüjin united the Mongol tribes and was proclaimed Genghis Khan. Under him and his successors the Mongol Empire became the largest contiguous land empire in history, stretching from East Asia to Eastern Europe and connecting distant regions through trade and the postal system, but also bringing devastating conquests. His grandson Kublai Khan founded the Yuan dynasty in China. After its fall the empire fragmented, and from the late seventeenth century Mongolia came under the rule of the Qing dynasty. Tibetan Buddhism became deeply rooted in Mongolian culture.
When the Qing dynasty collapsed, Mongolia declared independence in 1911 under the Bogd Khan. After the revolution of 1921, supported by Soviet Russia, the Mongolian People's Republic was proclaimed in 1924 and followed the Soviet model for almost seventy years. The 1930s brought violent purges in which many monks and others were killed and monasteries destroyed. In 1990 peaceful protests led to a democratic transition, and a new constitution in 1992 established a multi-party system. Since then the country has experienced rapid urbanisation and growth driven by mining.
Today Mongolia is shaped by its nomadic traditions, its pride in the heritage of Genghis Khan and the contrast between the open steppe and the growing capital Ulaanbaatar.
Do you have memories or stories from your region in Mongolia? Share them with other members in the Local History section.