Nomadic Empires: Socio-Political Backgrounds

Mongolia

Mongolia geographic condition: Mongolia is a Nation situated between Russia and China. It is lined by Steppes grassland in the North and North-West, the Gobi Desert in the south and the Altai Mountains in the south-West. Its Neighboring Nations are Kazakhstan (West), Russia (North) and China (South to East)

Mongols’ Social Condition Before the Nomadic Empires: Mongols were a large group of Nomadic people, either pastoralists or hunters. Pastoralists tended horses and Sheep and to a lesser extent other cattle, goats, camel etc. Hunters, comparatively humbler groups, were sheltered in the Northern forests of the Taiga region, making a living from trade in Furs with China. These groups used to live in Tents, Gers and transported their herds between their winter and summer pastures.

Mongolia tribal Polity: Nomadic people were united on the basis of ethnic and linguistic ties. Families with more resources had larger groups of followers or dependent smaller families.  In difficult times, scarce food and resources during long harsh winter months pushed them to fight with other Nomadic groups of their communities for Food and Pasture Lands. These fights were organized by stronger families and others joined them. These wealthy families possessed more Livestock and had greater influence in local politics.

Many nomadic tribes of Mongolia like Hsiung – nu (200 CE), Juan – Juan (400 CE), Uighurs etc had had a great influence on the politics of central Asia; Most Important among them was the tribe of the Genghis Khan, Borjigid.  Unlike Attila Hun, Genghis Khan developed a more stable and capable confederation which was able to take challenges of Well equipped Armies in Europe, China and Iran.

Relations with China: Normally, Nomadic Mongols and Their Settled Neighbors in China had mutually beneficial relations based on the Barter trade of Furs, horses and Hunted Animals for Iron Utensils and Agricultural Produce. This trade relation used to be very tense. To get more bargains Mongols came in groups. To maximize profit both sides tried to use military power. When Mongols were in a difficult time and had nothing to trade they’d attack to get the desired products on Chinese cities. These frontier wars were always more harmful to China than to Nomadic Mongols. Agriculture land was plundered, and cities were destroyed while Nomadic groups shifted with marginal loss. China had always been facing this turmoil and right from the 8th BCE, they used fortification of the borders. These centuries-old fortifications were joined together to fill the weak points in the physical security against Mongols. This structure is now called “The Great Wall”.

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