History

The history of the Mongolian people can be traced from 7th – 10th centuries. They are mentioned in Chinese chronicles in the history of Tang dynasty under the names Men-gu, Men-va, etc.: that is how the Chinese called the barbarians that wandered along their northern borders. It is considered that the Mongols came to the upper reaches of Onon and Kerulen from the north-west regions of Manchuria. On this territory the Huns, Syanbi, the zhuzhans, the Uigurs, Kitai, ancient Turks and other peoples replaced each other and partly merged. They all contributed into the formation of the Mongolian people.

By the end of the 12th century several large tribal unions migrated through the vast territory from the Great China wall to South Siberia. They called themselves Mongols, “people living behind felt walls” (sisegaithur katan ulus). In the early 13th century most of them were united under the power of Genghis Khan. Mongolia became one of the strongest military states in Central Asia. By making devastating raids, Genghis Khan and his descendants created an empire which in those times was second to none.

Following Genghis Khan’s death in 1227, the empire collapsed and was divided between his four sons. Mongolia itself was ruled alternately by Ogedei, Guyuk, Mongke and other descendants of the great conqueror. A century and a half of predatory wars ravaged the country, and the struggle between the Genghis Khan’s descendants weakened it. In the 17 the century Mongolian lands were conquered by the Chinese Manchurian dynasty (1644-1911) and North Mongolia (the territory of the modern Republic of Mongolia) became part of the Manchurian Tsin Empire. Following the dethronement of the Tsin Empire in China in 1911 the independent Mongolian state began to revive.  Bogdo-gegen (head of Buddhist church in North Mongolia) was announced its ruler. Further history of Mongolia in the 20th century was closely connected with Russia. In 1924, under the influence of the 1917 revolution the foundation of the Mongolian People’s Republic was announced. In the 1990s there began national reforms and reorganizations.

Color of the blue sky is the color of state flag   of Mongolia and symbol of the country.   Mongolia. Mongols. P. Rykin. 2005		Festival of the 800 anniversary   of Mongolian state foundation .  Mongolia. Mongols. P. Rykin. 2006		Monument to the Soviet soldiers died at Halhin-Gol.  Mongolia. D. Ivanov. 2006
Balbaly - eraly Turkic stone commemoration erections. Mongolia. The Mongols. Rykin P., 2005.		Bogdo Gegen's palace-museum in Ulan Bator. Mongolia. The Mongols. Rykin P., 2005.		Portrait of Genghis Khan made of stones on the mountain slope in the outskirts of Ulan Bator. Mongolia. The Mongols. Ivanov D.
So called vessel of Genghis Khan. Mongolia. The Mongols. Rykin P., 2005.		Erdeni-tzu - the earliest stone monastery in Mongolia established in the late 16th centiry. Mongolia. The Mongols. Ivanov D.		Monument to the Soviet soldiers defended Mongolia against Japanese troops in the battle at Khalkhin Gol. Mongolia. The Mongols. Ivanov D.
Palace of Bogdy Khan - the ruler of North Mongolia in the early 20th century. Mongolia. The Mongols. Ivanov D.		For antiquities collectors, market in Ulan Bator. Mongolia. Ulan Bator. Saifieva A., 2006.		Mongolian woman in the reconstructed 13th century  costume. Mongolia. The Mongols. Rykin P., 2006.
Costume of a wealthy Mongolian man. Mongolia. The Mongols. Rykin P., 2006.		A stela at the place of the first Mongolian theatre (1823) - South Mongolia. Mongolia. The Mongols. Rykin P., 2006.		Horsemen in medieval costumes. A celebration of the 800th anniversary of Mongolian state establishment. Mongolia. The Mongols. Rykin P., 2006.
A silver tree reconstructed by description of Wilhelm Rubruk, a monk missionary, ordered to the Mongols in 1253 by Louis IX, King of France. Mongolia. The Mongols. Rykin P., 2006.		A monument to Zanabazar (1635-1723), a prominent sculptor, done according to traditional Buddhist canons. Mongolia. The Mongols. Rykin P., 2005.		Panorama of Ulan Bator. Mongolia. Ulan Bator. Rykin P., 2005.
Districst of Ulan Bator. Mongolia. Ulan Bator. Rykin P., 2005.		Portrait of Tushetu Khan. The Mongols. Early 20th century.