A Brief History of Mongolia

Mongolia has several significant prehistoric sites such as the Northern Cave of Blue (Paleolithic cave drawings) in Khovd Province, White Cave in province of Bayankhongor, and Dornod Province (Neolithic farming village) which all suggests that Mongolia had been occupied for more than 800,000 years.

During the late 12th century, a tribal chief named Temujin eventually merged the Mongol tribes of Manchuria and the Altai Mountains. In 1206 Temujin carried the title Genghis Khan and established the Mongol Empire. His kingdom, the largest contiguous land empire and second largest overall in the world after the British Empire, launched numerous wars and military battles across Asia. When Genghis Khan died in 1259, the Mongol Empire was divided into 4 kingdoms or Khanates. His grandson Kublai Khan ruled one of the khanates, the Great Khaanate”, comprising of China and homeland Mongol. He established his capital in modern Beijing but after a century it was overthrew by the Ming Dynasty in 1368.

In 1911, Mongolia proclaimed independence from the Qing Dynasty. The Russians had a short rule though the leadership of “Blood” Baron Ungern and the religious leader Bogd Khan. In 1924, the Mongolian People’s Republic was declared. The country joined the Soviet Manchurian Strategic Offensive Operation in Inner Mongolia in 1945 causing China to recognize the independence of Outer Mongolia. In the early 1990s, a Mongolian Constitution was introduced with the “People’s Republic” being dropped from the nation’s name. This is the result of the peaceful 1990 Democratic Revolution in Sukhbaatar Square, Ulan Bator. Unforgettable personalities include Sanjaasürengiin, Bat-Erdeniin Batbayar, and Erdeniin Bat-Üül.