According to Chinese records from the Tang dynasty (618-906), one of the nomadic Shiwei tribe was known as the Mengwu. This might be the earliest known reference to the Mongols. few centuries later, another Chinese document, this time dating to 1084, describes the "Menggu" as a remote tribe that paid tribute to the Khitan; they lived on a mixture of hunting and pastoralism, they were believed to wear fish skins, and their technology was largely made out of wood and bone because of the Khitans’ (and, subsequently, the Jurchens’) ban on the exportation of iron. With time, more clans joined the Mongols, such as the Jajirad and the Qonggirad. In the twelfth century, under Jurchen rule, the Mongols became one of the leading steppe tribes, and indeed they rebelled against the Jurchen. At first, the Mongols managed to score a number of victories, and for some time the Jurchen had no choice but to appease them through gifts such as cattle, grains, and silks. However, the Jurchen eventually gained the upper hand, capturing Mongol slaves through regular military expeditions between the 1160s and the 1190s, and forcing the Mongol rulers to pay frequent tribute. Chinggis Khan stopped the tributes in 1210.
[1]
Population and political organization
At this time, the Mongols were divided into clans, and each clan belonged to either the Niru’un or the Dürlükin moiety. The Niru’un clans ruled the Dürlükin ones, though, due to traditional rules of exogamy, the Niru’un had to marry among the Dürlükin and vice versa.
[2]
The overall population of Mongolia was 600,000-1,000,000.
[3]
Between 80,000 and 120,000 seems like a reasonable estimate for just the Mongols, who inhabited the region alongside similarly sized peoples, such as the Naimans, Kereids, Tatars, and Merkids.
[1]: (Atwood 2004, 389-390)
[2]: (Atwood 2004, 390-391)
[3]: (Kradin 2002)
| Early Mongols |
| NO_VALUE_ON_WIKI |
| Borgigins | |
| Tatars | |
| Kereids | |
| Naimans |
| none | |
| alliance with [---] |
| Mongol Empire |
| UNCLEAR: [None] | |
| Succeeding: Mongol Empire (mn_mongol_emp) [elite migration] |
| quasi-polity |
| 500 people |
| [70,000 to 90,000] km2 |
| [80,000 to 120,000] people |
| present |
| present |
| inferred present | 1000 CE 1185 CE |
| present | 1185 CE 1206 CE |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| unknown |
| present |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| present |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| present |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| unknown |
| absent |
| unknown |
| present |
| absent |
| inferred present |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| present |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| present |
| absent |
| absent |
| present |
| present |
| absent |
| absent |
| present |
| absent |
| present |
| present |
| present |
| Year Range | Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early) was in: |
|---|---|
| (1126 CE 1205 CE) | Orkhon Valley |
None. Chiefs and their retinues constantly moved around, establishing temporary camps of a few dozen yurts (tents) (Kradin and Skrynnikova 2006).
Borgigins, Tatars, Kereids, Naimans, ...
Borgigins, Tatars, Kereids, Naimans, ...
Borgigins, Tatars, Kereids, Naimans, ...
Borgigins, Tatars, Kereids, Naimans, ...
The date of Kurultai when Chinggiz created the Empire.
By the starting date of 1000 CE we already have mentions of ethnic terms designating various tribal groups in Mongolia: Tatars, Naimans, Kereids, Mongols (Menggu in Chinese sources). These terms appeared at the very end of the first millennium CE. Citation: Taskin 1984, Rachewiltz 2004). The ending date is when Chinggiz formed the empire.
During this period Mongolia was a quasi-polity inhabited by simple and complex chiefdoms that alternatively warred against each other and formed alliances (Togan 199?).
During this period Mongolia was a quasi-polity inhabited by simple and complex chiefdoms that alternatively warred against each other and formed alliances (Togan 199?).
(Relationship): "Hülegü took with him an enormous army, supposedly two out of every ten Mongol soldiers, who were accompanied by families and herds. This, then, was not just a military campaign but also the mass migration of a large portion of the Mongol nation to Persia and the surrounding countries."
[1]
, "Hülegü took with him an enormous army, supposedly two out of every ten Mongol soldiers, who were accompanied by families and herds. This, then, was not just a military campaign but also the mass migration of a large portion of the Mongol nation to Persia and the surrounding countries."
[1]
(Entity): Saljuq kingdom of Rum; the Nezāri Esmāʿilis; the Abbasid caliphate the Nezāri Esmāʿilis = ’the Assassins’. The Mongol Empire covered territory that had been ruled by many different polities from the Saljuq kingdom of Rum to the ..
[1]
[1]: REUVEN AMITAI, ’IL-KHANIDS i. DYNASTIC HISTORY’ http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/il-khanids-i-dynastic-history
A typical chief/paramount chief exerted strong control over the warband during the times of war, but between wars the chief’s authority became diffuse (reference needed).
PT: How do we code this? We need to bring our coding scheme in line with nomadic polities
Mongolic family: Mongolian, Kereid, Tatar (these were probably dialects). Turkic family: Naimans
Mongolic family: Mongolian, Kereid, Tatar (these were probably dialects). Turkic family: Naimans
Mongolic family: Mongolian, Kereid, Tatar (these were probably dialects). Turkic family: Naimans
Mongolic family: Mongolian, Kereid, Tatar (these were probably dialects). Turkic family: Naimans
The mobile camp of the chief and his retinue could have more than 100 tents, which gives us a rough estimate of 500 (Kradin and Skrynnikova 2006).
Because this NGA during this period was a quasi-polity, the codes refer to a typical large polity, such as Naimans, Kereids, Tatars, Merkids, and Mongols.
uncoded Within the territory of Mongolia with norwestern part of Inner Mongolia and east Trans-Baikal region there were roughly 20 polities (chiefdoms and complex chiefdoms), according to Rashid al-Din (1952). The largest were Naimans, Kereids, Tatars, Merkids, and Mongols whose territories ranged from ?? - ?? km sq. The code reflects the territory size of an ’average’ large polity in this region (referring to those named above).
Inner Mongolia is shaped South West to North East. The territory’s description would make more sense if it included the North Eastern part of Inner Mongolia and East of Lake Baikal. Such an estimate would produce a territory of 1,000,000 km2 which is an average of 50,000 km2 each.
AD: Nikolay Kradin confirmed that the map produced by Edward was correct, so this means that his assessment of the territory including the North Eastern part of Inner Mongolia was right.
Under another variable Kradin says: "The rough scale of these chiefdoms was ?? km. A mounted messenger could cover this distance in 5-7 days." Orbis database says Roman horse could cover 56 km day
[1]
50*6 is 300 km. Square-shaped polity would be 90,000 km2.
Because this NGA during this period was a quasi-polity, the codes refer to a typical large polity, such as Naimans, Kereids, Tatars, Merkids, and Mongols.
Typical number of inhabitants of a polity.
The overall population of Mongolia during this period was 600,000-1,000,000 (Kradin 2002). Chinggiz Khan had 8 (check) thousand warriors in the decisive battle against Jamucha, who had roughly the same size of his force. 16,000 x 5 (est. average Mongol ’tent’) = 80,000. Rounding this gives us an estimate of the population size of the larger polities in Mongolia (Rachewiltz 2004).
Because this NGA during this period was a quasi-polity, the codes refer to a typical large polity, such as Naimans, Kereids, Tatars, Merkids, and Mongols.
"Around 1260 the total nomadic population of Central and Inner Asia, all of which was included in the Mongol empire at that time, would have been about 4,250,000. Two fifths of this, or 1.7 million people, would have been found in Outer or Inner Mongolia; one fifth, or 850,000 people, in the Chaghatay realm of Transoxania, Semirechye and parts of Jungaria and the Tarim Basin; one-fifth in the Juchids’ domains in northern Central Asia and the North Caucasian and South Russian steppe; and the remaining fifth in the Middle East with Hulegu."
[1]
[1]: (Wink 2002, 168) Wink, Andre. 2002. Al-Hind: The Slavic Kings and the Islamic conquest, 11th-13th centuries. BRILL.
levels.
There were no permanent settlements. There are some indications that the Naiman territory possibly included permanent settlements. This is uncertain. Avarga site near Kerulen River consists of several tens of houses protected on one side by an earthen rampart has been proposed by some to be a permanent settlement, but it is not universally accepted (Shiraishi 2006).
levels. According to our current understanding, there was no decimal system.(1) Khan (leader of the ulus = in thhis case, the complex chiefdom)
(2) Chief of ulus (subordinate chiefdom; ’ulus’ can refer to both a simple and complex chiefdoms)(3) Leader of irgen (’tribe’)(4) Leader of the obok (clan)(5) Ordinary nomad warrior. (Rachewiltz 2004, Kradin and Skrynnikova 2006)
levels.
(1) Ayl (group of tents)
(2) clan
Nukers (members of the chief’s military retinue) were full-time military specialists.
Samans (shamans) were full-time religious specialists.
R 2004, K+S 2006
After 1185 Chinggiz established specialized military units, including heavy cavalry, scouts, etc. Officers of these specialized units (around two dozens of them) were probably full-time specialists.
"Chingggis did not have professional military officers before 1185, but other khans (heads of chiefdoms) had professional military officers. This was bodyguards - nukers (in Mongolian)."
[1]
however, forces in nomadic armies usually unpaid other than in loot.
[1]: (Kradin 2016, personal communication)
After 1185 Chinggiz established specialized military units, including heavy cavalry, scouts, etc. Officers of these specialized units (around two dozens of them) were probably full-time specialists.
"Chingggis did not have professional military officers before 1185, but other khans (heads of chiefdoms) had professional military officers. This was bodyguards - nukers (in Mongolian)."
[1]
however, forces in nomadic armies usually unpaid other than in loot.
[1]: (Kradin 2016, personal communication)
Töro was unwritten traditional legal code. R 2004, K+S 2006.
There could be diplomatic letters perhaps with the Uyghurs. There could be individuals who knew Chinese writing.
There could be diplomatic letters perhaps with the Uyghurs. There could be individuals who knew Chinese writing.
Mongols did not have writing. However, the Naimans used Uyghur script. (Note: we need a category for syllabaries)
This religious literature is in addition to the sacred texts. For example, providing commentary on the sacred texts. Include prophecies here.
For example manuals on agriculture, military, cooking, etc
livestock, silk and probably other prestige goods
Specialized buildings exclusively devoted to the postal service.
This refers to a postal service that not only serves the ruler’s needs, but carries mail for private citizens.
Qarshi, built by Kebek of the Chagatai Khaganate is an example "typical of Mongolian and south Siberian cities from the Xiongnu period onwards."; it was "bounded by a strong wall, 4.5 m thick, surrounded by a deep defensive ditch, 8-10 m wide and 3.5-4 m deep, and had four gates. The original layout of the city (before Timurid additions) included one central fortress/palace surrounded by an open spaced designed for the erection of tents." [1]
[1]: (Biran 2013, 271-272) Michal Biran. Rulers and City Life in Mongal Central Asia (1220-1370) David Durand-Guedy. Turko-Mongol Rulers, Cities and City Life. BRILL. Leiden.
When there are more than one concentric ring of walls.
long been in use in the region. Majemir culture from 900 BCE is an example of one of the first iron-using cultures in the Altai region. [1] and by 300 BCE in the Ordos region of Mongolia iron was becoming much more frequently used for weapons and horse fittings. [2]
[1]: (Baumer 2012) Baumer, Christoph. 2012. The History of Central Asia: The Age of the Steppe Warriors. I.B.Tauris. London.
[2]: (Di Cosmo 2002, 84) Nicola Di Cosmo. 2002. Ancient China and Its Enemies: The Rise of Nomadic Power in East Asian History. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge.
long been in use in the region. Majemir culture from 900 BCE is an example of one of the first iron-using cultures in the Altai region. [1] and by 300 BCE in the Ordos region of Mongolia iron was becoming much more frequently used for weapons and horse fittings. [2]
[1]: (Baumer 2012) Baumer, Christoph. 2012. The History of Central Asia: The Age of the Steppe Warriors. I.B.Tauris. London.
[2]: (Di Cosmo 2002, 84) Nicola Di Cosmo. 2002. Ancient China and Its Enemies: The Rise of Nomadic Power in East Asian History. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge.
first mentioned later for Genghis Khan
(such as galleys and sailing ships)