Mongol Society and Culture

Question 1

Where and when did the Mongol tribes live a nomadic life?

Answer 1

By the 12 century, on the plains or steppes of Mongolia in central Asia. Successfully adapted to steppe conditions

Question 2

why didn’t they develop a sedentary lifestyle?

Answer 2

harsh conditions not suited

Question 3

why were they referred to as barbarians?

Answer 3

• Developed a nomadic or migratory lifestyle, wondering plains and herding their animals

Question 4

What did they do seasonally?

Answer 4

Move seasonally to better pasture land and water to keep large flocks

Question 5

Why did they live close to settlements?

Answer 5

for trade and food, based on season, climate and resource

Question 6

what did they have great appreciation for?

Answer 6

art and culture

Question 7

Silk Route?

Answer 7

trade, the most safest, valued, connect East and West- mass spread of culture

Question 8

What did they accept?

Answer 8

other religion. Their religion was based on homeland so when travel didn’t expect others to change religion

Question 9

Why was their army good?

Answer 9

easily adapt to new settings/ strategies

Question 10

What did the Mongol dwelling look like?

Answer 10

Round like tents and are made up of twigs and sticks. At the stop in middle is hole to let light in and smoke out, always makes fire in the middle of dwelling.
• Beautiful carved and decorated doors, south oriented

Question 11

What did they use to make a yurt or ger

Answer 11

• Door made of felt and both sides and roof covered in felt.
• Wool used for outer covering of the gers
• Animal skins

Question 12

Why was the dwelling good for the Mongols?

Answer 12

• Adapted to difficult conditions of everyday life

* Easy to be moved and reassembled (30 to 60 mins)

Question 13

What happened when you enter a ger?

Answer 13

airag and cheese are blown and snuff bottle are exchanged

Question 14

What is their main food source?

Answer 14

meat. Shown from primary source, listing all the animals and saying ‘extremely rich in animals’

Question 15

List the food and drink they eat:

Answer 15

• Boiled mutton – integral part of diet
• Goats milk, meat and cheese
• Yaks offer meat and milk
• Camels milk, cheese and meat
• Mare’s milk- ferment, produce alcoholic drink, airag (or koumiss)
• Liquor

Question 16

What were the three animals used for transport and why?

Answer 16

• Often use yack and ox carts to transport their belonging
• The Bactrian or two-humped camel – transport heavy load through desert and other inhospitable terrain. Good to hold things when moving but also to carry goods for trading
• Horses – provide mobility; roam the steppes in search of good pasture for their floats. Also round up horses that have been allowed to graze freely.

Question 17

What kind of material do Mongols use for clothes?

Answer 17

• Wool and animal skins
• Sheep wool pressed into felt then either made into clothing, rugs and blankets
• Camels wools

Question 18

What did the poor wear?

Answer 18

goat skins

Question 19

What is the national dress? what is it made out of?

Answer 19

unisex), form fitting robe known as del

• Del- woven out of silk, frequently imported from China

Question 20

What do woman wear during festivals/celebrations?

Answer 20

woman wore a variety of headdresses, including the traditional elaborate boghtagh

Question 21

What did elite woman wear?

Answer 21

exquisite jewellery

Question 22

What was good and bad about a nomadic lifestyle?

Answer 22

Positive – exposed to different cultures, never run out of resource, accept religions; be able to keep large flocks – continuous access to goof pasture land and water
Negative – having to move regularly, harsh conditions when travelling, more prone to attacks (no walls)

Question 23

What is a sedentary lifestyle?

Answer 23

A permanent settlement where food is produced by farming