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Mongolia is largely known for being the homeland of Genghis Khan, but many are unaware of the rich and diverse history that extends far beyond the Khan and his descendants' global impact.
The history of Mongolia is filled with surprising discoveries such as innovative inventions, nomadic cities, rare horse breeds, and the most unusual race in the world. Welcome to Mongolia – where horse-archers reign!
10. Mongolia: One of the World’s Most Ancient Nations
The Xiongnu, a nomadic, pastoral people living to the north of the Great Wall, formed a nation three years before the establishment of the Han dynasty in 209 B.C. After a long series of conflicts with early Chinese forces, peace was established in 162 B.C. when Emperor Wen of the Han dynasty officially acknowledged Mongolia's independence.
"Given that the Xiongnu inhabit the frigid northern territories, where the harsh cold sets in early, I have instructed the relevant officials to send a yearly supply of grain, gold, both fine and coarse silks, and other items to the Shan Yu (the king). Now, peace reigns across the globe."
While the Mongolia we recognize today began to take form only after Genghis Khan united the various tribes, the cultures and peoples existed a thousand years prior to his rule.
9. The Mongols Were the First to Create Ice Cream
Mongolia's harsh winters are so cold that ice cream vendors today can serve their treats directly from cardboard boxes, with no freezer required. Legend has it that before Marco Polo introduced the dessert to Italy, Mongol horsemen crossing the Gobi desert in the winter carried cream in animal intestine containers. As they traveled, the cream was vigorously shaken in freezing temperatures, causing it to freeze and blend into ice cream.
It’s unclear if the Mongols had flavors like Rocky Road or if they ever enjoyed ice cream while lamenting a breakup for a more skilled horseman. What we do know is that as the Mongol Empire expanded and clashed with China, ice cream spread along with them, allowing Polo to bring it back to Italy—and for Italians to take credit for the idea for centuries to come.
8. A Mobile Capital City
For nearly 150 years, Ulaanbaatar was a traveling capital. As one would expect from a people with a centuries-old nomadic tradition, staying put in one location wasn’t very exciting. So, whenever the Khan moved, his entire city did as well. Originally called Örgöö (meaning Palace-Yurt), the city relocated 25 times before eventually establishing itself at the confluence of the Selbe and Tuul Rivers. The decision to settle likely came when the city grew too large to move easily. As Scottish explorer John Bell noted in 1721:
"What they call the Urga is the court or the place where the prince (Tusheet Khan) and high priest (Bogd Jebtsundamba Khutugtu) reside, who are always encamped near each other. They have several thousand tents around them, which are moved periodically. The Urga is often visited by merchants from China, Russia, and various other places."
By the time the city finally became permanent, it is believed that up to ten thousand monks resided in its temples.
7. Genocide! Once More!
It seems that nearly every country on Earth has a few skeletons hidden away, and it would be an oversight not to mention the contributions of the great Khan to the grim art of mass extermination. The Mongols' record in unmechanized mass killing is second only to the Armenian Genocide (see our article on Armenia for more details), achieving a high death toll that remained unmatched until the invention of firearms and chemical weapons.
At the Persian city of Merv, Genghis Khan overcame his enemies, but the people refused to surrender. In retaliation, he ordered the entire population to be led outside over a span of 13 days. His soldiers were then commanded to kill 400 people each. Historians estimate the death toll exceeded one million.
6. The Last of the Wild Horses
Przewalski’s horse, named after the Polish explorer who 'discovered' the breed in the 19th century, is called the Takhi in Mongolia. Due to their rarity and human interference, these horses were nearly driven to extinction in Mongolia as well-meaning but misguided people captured them for zoos. But it gets even more tragic.
At the outbreak of World War II, Kazakh soldiers fleeing the Chinese army faced starvation and freezing temperatures. They resorted to eating whatever they could find, including many Takhi. The extreme winters (-40°C) and scorching summers (+40°C), along with a surge in the local wolf population, led to the extinction of the last Takhi by 1968.
Luckily, Western European horse enthusiasts unknowingly helped preserve the species, and in 2004, twelve of these rarest of horses were reintroduced to Mongolia. Today, around 300 wild Takhi live in the country, with an unknown number also residing in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Honestly, who would want to go and count them? They’ve probably sprouted two heads by now and developed a taste for meat.
5. Communism: The Unexpected Comeback
If there’s ever a country that demonstrates that not all systems work everywhere, it’s Mongolia. After aligning with the USSR in 1924 and becoming the world’s second Communist state, Mongolia enjoyed a certain level of autonomy. This was due to several factors: the country’s Communist leader was a staunch Stalin supporter, and China’s proximity made Mongolia an ideal hub for trade and diplomacy.
After Perestroika, Mongolia decided to try out this 'democracy' thing, but they didn’t exactly find the neoliberal experience to their liking. In 2016, the Mongolian People’s Party won a sweeping victory in the elections, though they ran on a platform that was devoid of hardline Communist policies.
Despite concerns over potential social repression, Mongolian politician Nambariin Enkhbayar reassures that their brand of Communism is different. "These aren’t monsters who’ve come to power, but people who speak the same language," he said. "We simply want to live in a civilized, developed, and democratic society."
4. The Perfect Place to Escape From . . . Everyone
With only two people per square kilometer, Mongolia is an ideal spot for recluses, hermits, antisocial oddballs, and writers for Mytour, who typically fit all of those descriptions. The only dilemma is deciding how to handle That Other Guy in your square kilometer. Should you kill him? Leave him to freeze to death in the -30°C winters? Or chase him off on your Battle-Yak? The decision is up to you.
Thankfully, the neighbors are generally quite friendly when you can actually find them. In Mongolia, it’s customary to always have warm, slightly salted milk tea ready for guests, which makes sense considering the vast distances between gers (nomadic tents). Just picture trying to borrow a cup of sugar!
3. The Steppes
For those of us living in so-called modern nations, few sights are more captivating than witnessing the Kazakh people in Mongolia hunting with Golden Eagles. These mighty birds have been tamed and used in hunting by the steppes’ peoples for over 4500 years. It’s an awe-inspiring testament to the enduring strength of tradition and culture.
An anecdote goes like this: A hunter was reunited with his eagle, honorably discharged after eight years of loyal service. Years after the eagle was set free, the hunter and his friend were out riding when they spotted two eagles soaring high above. The hunter declared, "That’s my eagle." His friend laughed it off, but the hunter let out a high-pitched whistle, and sure enough, the eagle descended and landed right on his arm!
What a country!
2. The Most Bizarre Rally on Earth
Forget about the Gumball Rally or the Paris-Dakar. Forget Wacky Races. The most insane race in the world is the journey from wherever you are right now to a pub in Mongolia. The rules are peculiar—your vehicle must have an engine smaller than one liter, unless you're driving a comical vehicle, like an ambulance or something equally absurd. Motorbikes are allowed, but they must have an engine no bigger than 125cc.
For context, when film stars Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman crossed Mongolia, they did it on all-terrain BMW bikes with engines ten times more powerful than the ones allowed in this rally, and they nearly failed to make it across the country.
In summary, if you participate in the Mongol Rally, you’re probably a little insane and might be tempting fate. Remarkably, only two people have lost their lives since the competition began in 2004. On a positive note, the rally has raised millions for charity, which is a nice outcome.
1. Monumental Statue of a Notable Leader/Genocidal Tyrant/Your Forebear
Just outside Ulaanbaatar stands a 131-foot statue of Genghis Khan. It's understandable given his role in founding the country, but let's not forget the millions of people he killed. It's somewhat akin to finding a statue of Lenin in Seattle. Sure, some may revere the man, but the mass killing is hard to overlook.
Still, we must remember that the 12th century was a very different era, and horseback archery is undeniably impressive. Just an hour away from the world's coldest capital, you'll find the tallest horse statue on Earth.
"All Mongolian people take great pride in this statue," said Sanchir Erkhem, a 26-year-old Mongolian sumo wrestler living in Japan, who was posing for photos during a visit home in 2009. "Genghis Khan is our hero, our father, our god." "He was a brutal man, but he led our country to greatness," said Toguldur Munkochir, 25. "If you look at figures like Lincoln, Hitler, and Julius Caesar, it's kind of the same thing."
