Home Region:  Mongolia (Central and Northern Eurasia)

Early Mongols

1000 CE 1206 CE
EQ 2020  mn_mongol_early / MnMongE
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
[Khitan Empire] [None]   Update here

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
1206 CE 1270 CE Mongol Empire (mn_mongol_emp)    [elite replacement]


  General Description   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)

General Variables
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale
Hierarchical Complexity
Professions
Bureaucracy Characteristics
Law
Specialized Buildings: polity owned
Transport Infrastructure
Special-purpose Sites
Information / Writing System
Information / Kinds of Written Documents
Information / Money
Information / Postal System
Information / Measurement System
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequences Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early) was in:
 (1126 CE 1205 CE)   Orkhon Valley
Home NGA: Orkhon Valley
General Variables
Identity and Location Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Original Name Early Mongols Confident Expert 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Capital None (Absent Capital) Confident Expert 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Alternative Name Tatars Confident Expert 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Alternative Name Kereids Confident Expert 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Alternative Name Naimans Confident Expert 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Alternative Name Borgigins Confident Expert 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Temporal Bounds Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Peak Years 1206 CE Confident Expert
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Duration [1000 CE ➜ 1206 CE] Confident Expert
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Political and Cultural Relations Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations none Confident Expert 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Suprapolity Relations alliance with [---] Confident Expert 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Succeeding Entity Mongol Empire Confident Expert 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Preceding Entity
CE
Khitan Empire [None]    Update here
Confident Expert
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Succeeding Entity
1206 CE 1270 CE
Mongol Empire (mn_mongol_emp)   [elite replacement]  Confident
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Degree of Centralization quasi-polity Confident Expert 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Language Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Mongolic Confident Expert 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Linguistic Family Turkic Confident Expert 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Language Kereid Confident Expert 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Language Naimans Confident Expert 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Language Mongolian Confident Expert 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Language Tatar Confident Expert 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Religion Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement 500 people Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Polity Territory [70,000 to 90,000] km2 Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Polity Population [80,000 to 120,000] people Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 1 Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Religious Level 1 Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Military Level 5 Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Administrative Level 2 Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Professions Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Professional Priesthood Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Professional Military Officer Present Inferred 1000 CE 1185 CE
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Professional Military Officer Present Confident 1185 CE 1206 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Examination System Unknown Suspected 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Law Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Judge Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
Court Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Market Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Irrigation System Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Food Storage Site Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Road Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Port Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Canal Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Bridge Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Writing System Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Unknown Suspected 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Script Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Nonwritten Record Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Mnemonic Device Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Sacred Text Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Religious Literature Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Practical Literature Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Philosophy Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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History Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Fiction Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Calendar Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Information / Money Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Token Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Precious Metal Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Paper Currency Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Indigenous Coin Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Foreign Coin Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Article Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Information / Postal System Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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General Postal Service Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Courier Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Information / Measurement System Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Unknown Suspected 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Modern Fortification Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Moat Unknown Suspected 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Fortified Camp Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Earth Rampart Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Ditch Present Inferred 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Complex Fortification Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Military use of Metals Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Iron Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Copper Present Inferred 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Bronze Present Inferred 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Projectiles Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Sling Siege Engine Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Sling Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Self Bow Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Javelin Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Handheld Firearm Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Crossbow Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Composite Bow Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Atlatl Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Handheld weapons Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Sword Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Spear Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Polearm Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Dagger Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Battle Axe Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Animals used in warfare Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Elephant Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Donkey Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Dog Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Camel Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Armor Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Shield Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Scaled Armor Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Plate Armor Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Limb Protection Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Leather Cloth Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Laminar Armor Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Helmet Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Chainmail Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Breastplate Present Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Naval technology Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Absent Confident 1000 CE  1206 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Human Sacrifice Early Mongols (mn_mongol_early)
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Instability Data
Power Transitions