Mongolia

Geography

Mongolia is in Asia, placed in between China and Russia

It’s Features…The terrain is one of mountains and rolling

plateaus, with a high degree of relief.

Overall, the land slopes from the high Altay Mountains of the west and the north to plains and depressions in the east and the south.

Mongolia is high, cold, and dry. It has an extreme continental climate with long, cold winters and short summers, during which most precipitation falls.

It’s Features… 2The country has an average elevation of 1,580

meters.

The landscape includes one of Asia's largest freshwater lakes (Lake Khövsgöl), many salt lakes, marshes, sand dunes, rolling grasslands, alpine forests, and permanent mountain glaciers.

Northern and western Mongolia are seismically active zones, with frequent earthquakes and many hot springs and extinct volcanoes.

Resources and Land UseNatural resources: petroleum, coal, copper,

molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold

Land use:arable land: 1%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 80%forests and woodland: 9%other: 10% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 800 km² (1993 est.)

History

Many different nomadic empires ruled Mongolia.

In 1206 Genghis Khan was the founder of the Mongol Empire. The Mongol Empire was the biggest History has ever seem.

In 1368 after the collapse of the Yuan Dynasty in 1368, the Mongols continued their earlier patterns of internal conflicts

Mongolia came under Buddhism influences in the 16th 17th centre

After 17th centre, most of Mongolia was rules by the Qing Dynasty. Mongolia declared independence after the Qing Dynasty collapsed.

But it struggled until 1921 to have in fact it’s independence

In 1945 it gained international reorganization.

As a result of that, Russia and Soviet put a lot of influence in Mongolia.

Mongolian People’s Republic was declared in1924

At this time, Mongolian politics was the same as Soviet’s.

Chinese and Russian Occupation

In 1911, Mongolia declared independence, around the same time as the Republic of China was established. China laid claim to Mongolia, stating it as their territory.

In 1921, Russian Explorer Baron Ungern defeated the Chinese in Ulaanbaatar, the Mongolian Capital and went on to occupy the country.

Communism in MongoliaUnsettled by the menaces of China, Japan, and

White Russia, a revolutionary group, led by Damdin Sukhbaatar, fought for independence, with the aid of Bolshevik Russia. On the 11th of July, 1921, Mongolia once again declared independence.

Country Information

Country InformationEconomic System: Modern and Traditional

Systems.

Political System: Democratic

Population: 3,086,918

Language: Khalkha Mongol

Culture

Festivals and holidays Naadam Festival- 3 main sports

Wrestling, horse riding and archery

This is celebrated all over Mongolia

Tsagaan Sar- the “ white moon”

Celebrate the lunar new year

It is a tradition to climb the scared mountain on the first day of the new year

Then celebrate with family and friends

Religion

Shamanism- is a “technique of ecstasy”

this is practiced in tribal cultures/ indigenous people

This is when the spirit leave the body and communicate among spirit helpers for knowledge, power and healing.

Buddhism- Mongolians have been Buddhist since the 16th century

This is based up on the Tibetan Buddhist teachings

Muslim is also practiced and is about 6% of the community

The Mongolian GerIs the home of Mongolian nomads

It is made out of wood and is covered in felt

Mongolian MusicKhoomi singing: composed of high pitches

Known as throat singing and hard to understand

Morin Huur/ Horse Head fiddle- traditional music

Originated from the Chinese two stringed fiddle

Long Song:

Nomadic art form

Can be sung without instruments

Made up of melodies about nature, family, animals and stories

Morin Huur

Mongolian Culture is known for it’s hospitality. The Mongolian community traditionally has a pastoral nomadic lifestyle. Because of the climates, and the seasons, the nomadic lifestyle, and agriculture are very important. They raise five types of different animals.

Animals – goat, sheep, cattle (Yaks), camels and horses. They animals help provide dairy products, transportation, wool, and food for the Mongolian Community. Out of all the animals mentioned, the horse is the most important.

Continued….In Mongolian culture, the people cherish, and

take very good care of their horses. The horse is very useful for transportation and sports. The horse is used for parties, and traditional festivals.

Daily Responsibilities In Mongolia, there are daily routines, that people

follow. “Traditionally, men take care of the horses arid, the herds and make saddles, harnesses, and weapons. In addition, they hunt to supplement  the traditional diet of dairy products. Women also milk cows, goats and mares (the national drink is airag - fermented mare's milk). Despite their enterprise, however, Mongolians are not self-sufficient.” The women also cook, take care of the children, and make different clothes. Mongolians also trade with other civilizations for grain, rice, silk, cotton, and tea.

Interesting Facts

It is the 18th biggest country in the world, but has only 2.3 million people.

One of the first dinosaur skeletons was found in Mongolia’s desert.

70% of the population are under 35 years old.

The dictator Dschinghis Khan is the most famous Mongol.

Course Questions

What region does your country belong to?

Mongolia belongs to region of Asia.

What makes your country stand out as a country?

Most Mongolians are Tibetan Buddhists Lamas

Many Mongolians were nomadic people until as late as the mid-20th century.

What makes your country similar to other countries?

Mongolia has a democracy.

What makes your country different from other countries?

Mongolia is most landlocked and isolated countries in the world

Sourceshttp://www.mongolian-ways.com/culture.htm#4

http://www.bookrags.com/research/mongoliaeconomic-system-ema-04/

Catalonia, Miguel Alonso. "Mongolian Culture - Music, Festivals, Religion." Mongolian Ways - Outdoor and Cultural Adventure Travel in Mongolia. 2007. Web. 13 Feb. 2011. <http://www.mongolian-ways.com/culture.htm>.