Mongolian Society
A short synopsis of the historic social structures of Mongolia.
Traditional Societies of Mongolia
Traditional Mongolian society is based on the khot ail, a small community of nomads working and living near each other. Two to twelve nuclear families, each in their own ger, shared the work of herding, moving, making food, and processing wool into clothing. These families were not necessarily related. Each family kept a written record of its lineage, tracing back to a prominent male ancestor. Those who claimed direct descent from a figure like Genghis Khan tended to occupy more important roles in society. Personal wealth and strength also determined status. Raids to capture livestock and claim pastures were once common in the region, making military training essential for each man. Within a patriarchal system, women occupied positions of respect and influence among their family.
Marriages could only be conducted between different tribes. This led to a web of complex alliances governing local raids, trade, and warfare. In this way, nomads organized, clashed, and intermarried across the steppes for centuries. Genghis Khan used this network of tribes to rise to power and form a unified army in the 13th century. His empire both adopted the customs of its conquered and introduced reforms across the empire. Perhaps most notable of these was an advanced mail system and trade routes protected by imperial force. The early khanates practiced religious tolerance. Khans often selected members of other cultures for important roles, encouraging the perception of a unified empire. In Mongolia, the royal courts of the khans grew to be some of its first major cities.
Modern Societies of Mongolia
Under Qing China, family rank in Mongolia grew less important from the 17th century on. Society weakened further during industrialization of the Soviet era. Seeking to detach the nomads from their past, new laws banned the tracking of families and the use of clan names. Similarly, knowledge of Genghis Khan and his empire were suppressed, and Buddhism within the nation dismantled. Modern Mongolian people generally use a first name and patronymic, or a variant of their father’s name. Today’s Mongolian society is structured more around cities, businesses, and administrative districts, though nomad communities are still the norm in rural areas. Status is now primarily determined by individual wealth and career prospects.
References
Curtin, Jeremiah. The Mongols: A History. Little, Brown, and Company. 1907.
Jackson, Peter. The Mongols and the West: 1221-1410. Routledge. 2014.
Lane, George. Daily Life in the Mongol Empire. Greenwood Press. 2006.
Rossabi, Morris. Modern Mongolia: From Khans to Commissars to Capitalists. University of California Press. 2005.
“The World Factbook: Mongolia.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 1 May 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mg.html.
About TOTA
TOTA.world provides cultural information and sharing across the world to help you explore your Family’s Cultural History and create deep connections with the lives and cultures of your ancestors.
