Official name: Mongolia
Population: 3,259,414
Area: 1,565,000 square km
Capital: Ulaanbaatar city
Official language: Mongolian language
Major religion: Buddhism
Literacy: about 98.4%
Political system: Parliamentary republic
Currency: Tugrug (MNT or ₮)
LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHY
Mongolia is located in the central part of Asiabordering with Russia and China. The total territory of the country is over 1.5 million square kilometers and the most sparsely populated country in the world. (approximately 1 square kilometer per 1.6 persons.) Mongolia is the eighteenth largest country in the world by size of territory. It is also the world's second-largest landlocked country. The average altitude is 1580m above sea level. The highest point is the Huiten peak (4374m) in the Altai mountain ranges in the west. The lowest point is the Hoh nuur or lake (532m) above sea level which is located in the east. From the west to the eastit’s around 2392 km long and 1259 km long from south to north. Mongolia is home to high mountainswide steppe and Gobi desert. There are over 3800 permanently running rivers in the territory of Mongolia. Mongolian rivers are included in ArcticPacific and land-locked central Asian River basins. About 4000 lakes are in Mongolia. The biggest fresh water lake is Hovsgol and the biggest salt one is Uvs.
AdditionallyMongolia is land of a lot of species of fauna and flora including 146 species of mammalalmost 430 different types of birds8 kinds of amphibians and 76 species of fish. There are some rarest animals like Gobi bearsnow leopardTakhi or wild horse etc.
CLIMATE
Mongoliaa landlocked countryis located far from the seas and oceans so it has a harsh continental climate with very little rainfalllongcold winters and short summers. Generallyaverage temperatures are around 0.2°C (32°F)winter temperatures are -10° …-30°C (14° …22°F) and summer temperatures are 10° …27°C (50° …80°F). Several occasionstemperatures can falls to as low as -50 degree Celsius in Januarythe coldest month whereas summer’s temperatures can rise to 30 degree Celsius in Julythe hottest month. The annual average precipitation is 200 to 220 mm. Mongolia is the land of winds and especially sharp winds blow in springApril and May. Mongolia is called “The land of the blue sky” as there are about 250 sunny days a year.
LANGUAGE
The official language is Mongolian which belongs to Altaic language family. It is spoken by 95% of the population. Rest of the people speak KazakhTuvan and Buryat across the country.
Todaythe Cyrillic alphabet has been written in Written language since 1946even though in the past several scripts such as Mongolian traditional scriptTod scriptDurvuljin or Square script and Soyombo scripts were used in written language. One of these scripts is Mongolian Traditional script or Hudum Mongol Bichig was created specifically for the Mongolian language. It is traditionally written in vertical linestop-down and derived from the Old Uighur alphabet.
PEOPLE
Mongolia has approximately over 3 million people. The majority of the population of Mongolia is Khalkha Mongols (85%)but minority groups include KazakhDorvodBayadBuriadDarigangaZahchinUrianhaiOoldTorguud and more. In other wordsthere are more than 20 ethnic groups. The largest of these minority groupsKazakhs make up around 5% percent of the total population.
The nation also has an extremely young populationwith over 60 percent of people less than thirty years old while 40% under the age of 14.
CUISINE
The Mongolian cuisine is divided into dairy products and meat food. The meat food comprises the meals made of pure and fresh meat alone. The uncut meat is being boiled together with other seasoning and flavoring with vegetables and served and the uncut meat is also used for making such national special dishes as horhog (pieces of meat cooked by means of putting them into a sealed vessel together with the red-hot stones inside)boodog (the whole of goatmarmot cooked with red-hot stones put inside). Alsotwo of the most popular dishes are Buuz (a meat filled steamed dumpling) and Khuushuur (deep-fried pastry.)
In summertimeMongolians prefer to drink fermented milk (mare’s milk)cow and goat’s milkyoghurt and eat dried curdscream and cheese which contain different types of vitamins and minerals.
RELIGION
In Mongoliathere are different types of religions such as Buddhism (53%) since the 16th centuryShamanism (in the north)Muslims in the West (Kazakh groups). The main religion is Buddhism or Lamaismwhich is the Yellow Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Until 16th centuryshamanismworshipping the Blue Skywas the dominant religion in Mongolia. Lamaism was introduced in 1586 by the leader Altan Khan (1507–83) then it gained more popularity.
Tibetan Buddhism shared the common Buddhist goals of individual release from suffering and reincarnation.
At the beginning of the 20th centuryMongolia had hundreds of Buddhist monasteries and about 30 percent of all men were monks. Communists led an anti-religious campaign in the 1930smore than 700 monasteries were destroyed and thousands of monks were killed.
ECONOMY OF MONGOLIA
Economic activity traditionally in Mongolia has been based on the agriculture and breeding of livestock: sheepgoatscattle (mainly yak)horsesand camels. From these livestocknumerous products including meatdairy productswool and cashmere are collected. The total of livestock is about 71 million in 2019. Agricultural production takes place in some regions where grains (wheatcrop,) potatoes and other vegetables are grown.
The country is rich in natural resources or mineral deposits including coalcoppergoldfluorsparand molybdenumtintungsten and gold account for a large part of industrial production and foreign investment.
HISTORY OF MONGOLIA
Chronologies of important events
1162 – Temujinlater to become Chinggis Khanwas born
1189 – Temujin takes the title of Chinggis Khan
1189-1205 – Chinggis Khan unites Mongols
1206 – Chinggis Khan was proclaimed for ruler of the Mongol empire
1211 – Chinggis Khan launched attack to China
1220-26 - Southwest Asia conquered; invasion of Europe and China
1227 - Chinggis khan passed away
1229 – Ogodei KhanChinggis Khan’s third sonproclaimed the second Khan
1235 – Karakorum was built by Ogodei
1241 – Ogodei passed away
1246 – Guyugson of Ogodei become Khan
1251 – Munkheldest son of Toluibecame Khan
1261 - Khubilaigrandson of Chinggis khanbecame Great Khan
1264 – Capital moved from Karakorum to Beijing
1279 - Yuan Dynasty was established by Khubilai in China.
1368 – Mongols driven out of ChinaYuan dynasty destroyed
1388 - Chinese troops destroyed Karakorum
1400-54 - Civil war lasted in Mongolia
1466 - Batmunkh Dayan Khaan reunited most of Mongolia
1586 - Buddhism spread out third time and Erdene ZuuMongolia’s first monastery was built
1636 - The Manchu (Qing) empire conquers the southern Mongolscreating Inner Mongolia.
1641 – Zanabazar (Son of Tusheet khan Gombodorj and direct descendant of Chinggis Khan) proclaimed leader of Buddhists in Mongolia
1732 - Zuungar Mongols (West Mongols) defeated; Mongolian Independence ended
1911 - The Qing dynasty falls and Outer Mongolia declares its independence.
1921 – Chinese defeatedMongolia’s independence proclaimed by D.Sukhbaatar
1938 Buddhist monasteries were closed
1939 - Mongolian and Soviet troops commanded by General Jukov defeated Japanese in eastern Mongolia
1945 - Mongolians vote for independence in a UN referendum. Mongolia was recognized by the Republic of China.
1949-55 - Railway built across Mongolia linking Russia and China.
1952 - Choibalsan diesand was replaced as prime minister by Tsedenbalthe MPRP general secretary since 1940.
1961 - UN Security Council approved Mongolia's UN membership.
1990 – Street demonstrations force resignation of the MPRP Politburo. Political parties are legalised. Elections to the Great Hural (parliament) are won by the MPRPbut 19 of the 50 seats in a new standing legislature go to non-communists.
1992 - Mongolia's new constitution gives first place to human rights and freedom. In the first democratic elections the MPRP wins 71 of the 76 seats in the new single-chamber Great Khural.
1993 - The first direct presidential elections are won by Ochirbatnominated by the National and Social Democrats.
1997 - MPRP candidate Bagabandi wins presidential election.
2000 - After the democrats form three new governments in two years the MPRP wins 72 seats in the Great Hural elections. The National and Social Democrats and three other parties form a new Democratic Party.
2001 May - President Bagabandi re-elected.
2002 November - Dalai Lama visits. China denounces trip and warns Mongolian leaders not to meet the Tibetan spiritual leader.
2003 July - It is announced that 200 soldiers will be sent to Iraq to contribute to peacekeeping.
2005 May - MPRP candidate Nambaryn Enkhbayar wins presidential election.
2005 November - President George W Bush becomes the first serving US leader to visit Mongolia.
2009 May - Former Prime Minister and candidate of the opposition Democratic PartyTsakhiagiin Elbegdorjwins presidential electiondefeating incumbent Nambaryn Enkhbayar by a narrow margin. Governing MPRP says it accepts the result.
2011 July - Mongolia selects the US Peabody EnergyChina's Shenhua and a Russian-Mongolian consortium as partners to develop the highly sought-after Tavan Tolgoi coal deposit in the Gobi desert.
2012 June - Parliamentary elections. Democratic Party wins most seats and goes on to form a coalition with the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party.
2013 June - Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorjfrom the Democratic Partywins a second term as president.
2017 July - Khaltmaa Battulga is elected the president.
source: bbc.com
Mongolia in the 13th century
The 13th century was the period of Mongolians’ history in the world. This is the history or era of Chinggis Khaanhis generalswarriorsand descendants who occupied the 13th century.
In the 10-12th centuriesvarious nomadic tribes of Mongolian origin used to live in the vast area of land stretching from great Gobi desert in the south to Lake Baikal in the north. In 1189Temujin was proclaimed Khan of the Hamag Mongolians and was given title “Chinggis Khaan”. He subsequently conquered other clans and established Mongolian Empire in 1206. Chinggis khan united the Mongolian people under the sun and made them the strong nation then conquered half of the world. Chinggis Khaan was a remarkable great military leadergenius politician. Chinggis Khaan left to posterity a powerful and unconquerable Empireas well as pride and grateful memories of himself. He passed away at the age of 66in 1227.
After the death of Chinggis Khaanhis third son Ogodei became the second Khaan of the Mongolian Empire. Ogodei reigned from 1228 to 1241. The Mongolian Empire expanded to comprise northern ChinaMiddle EastRussiaUkraine and Iran. HungaryPoland in 1242.
Grandson of Chinggis Khaan - Khubilai Khaan - conquered the whole territory of China and founded the Yuan Dynasty in China. The Mongol Empire reached its greatest territorial extent in the 13th century. At their peakthe Mongols controlled between 11 and 12 million contiguous square milesencompassing most of Asia and extending westward to the Eastern Europe. Mongols also granted religious freedomencouraged trade and created the first international postal system. The Mongol Empire existed for almost 150 yearsup to the end of the 14th century.
Mongolia in the 17th-19th centuries
After the Mongolian EmpireMongols lost their previous unity and were divided into Western Mongols or Oirats and Eastern Mongols. Furthermorein the 16th centuryEastern Mongolia split up into Outer Mongolia and Inner Mongolia under the influence of Manchu. Manchu domination in Asia started from the end of the 15th century. The Manchu was a highly militaristic statethat attacked and subjugated Mongolia. The Mongols waged war on each other and lost their unitypowerful finally were completely conquered by Manchus in 1691. Mongolia came under the full control of Manchurians. Manchus colonization lasted for 220 years or up to the 20th century. The Ching Dynasty established its rule and laws over the entire territory of Mongolia
Mongolia in 20th century
In 1911 the Mongols Monarchy was established. 8th Bogd Javzandamba khutagt was elected Mongolian Last Khaan who was Grand lama.
The struggle of D.Sukhbaatar and his fellow revolutionaries against the Manchu brought about complete political and territorial independence in 1921. As the result of the Mongolian People’s revolution in 1921Mongolia was released from Manchu colonization.
The victory of People’s revolution enabled the country to embark on a new course of developmentfocusing on strengthening the state independence of Mongolia. During the period from 1921 to 1924the new government carried out important changes in the politicaleconomicalsocial and health spheres of the limited monarchy of Mongolia.
Undeclared war started on 28 May 1939when Japanese troops attacked Mongolia's borders in the area of the Khakhyn-Gol. Mongolian-Soviet joint forces stopped the invader in August1939.
After the II World WarMongolia adopted the Soviet five-year-plan pattern in the economic policy. In 195899.7 percent of the country's total livestock was nationalized.
Mongolia remained one of the most closed countries in the world up until 1990s. Politicallythe country was a satellite of the Soviet system. EconomicallyMongolia was heavily dependent on Russian subsidies. Distortions in the economy and inefficient governance brought the country to socialeconomic and political stagnation.
Modern Mongolia
In 1990’sMongolia transferred to Free Market economy and Democracyand set the goal of building “democratic human socialism” based on a multi-party democracy. In January 1992a new constitution was established.
The first President of Mongolia was elected by public election in 1993. The president is elected for a four year term. The Mongolian first president was P.Ochirbat. Mongolia elects the Parliament on national level. The State Great Khuralthe parliament has 76 memberselected for a four year term in single-seat constituencies. Heavy and light industriespower plantssecondary schoolsrailwaystelephone stations and telegraph lines have been built. NowMongolia has over 3 million people and 62 million livestock.