Genghis Khan Rides Again | Mongolia

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Just over thirty miles east of the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator the old Emperor rides again.  Sat atop his horse, surveying his dominion. A huge 131 feet(!) statue of Genghis Khan dominates the steppes of Mongolia.

To the outside world, Genghis Khan, the fearsome Mongolian warrior who conquered half the known world in the 13th century, is remembered for his brutalities and destruction. Resulting in the death of forty million people. But to Mongolians, he is a national hero, a larger-than-life figure and the symbol of Mongolian culture.

Genghis Khan founded the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history, revived the Silk Road, uniting warring tribes and was responsible for cementing the position of Mongols in the world’s map.

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Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia

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Ulaanbaatar is the capital and, with 1.3 million inhabitants, the largest city of Mongolia. The city is home to 40% of the country’s population. No bigger contrast possible between the city dwellers and the (semi) nomadic life of the other 60%.  

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Yurts have existed for thousands of years in Central Asia, in virtually the same form as they exist today. They are ideal dwellings for the nomadic cultures of the Central Asian steppe. 

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Horse herders in Mongolia

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Mongolia is known as the land of the horse, and Mongols have a reputation for being the best horsemen on Earth. Nowhere are horses more central to daily life than in Mongolia. Horses are still widely used for travel, herding, hunting, and sport. Even in the twenty-first century, Mongolia remains a horse-based culture.

The lives of the Mongolian horse herders revolve around their animals. Catching and riding the wild horses is a difficult task!

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Galileo Galilei (1564 –1642) was an Italian physicist, mathematician, engineer, astronomer, and philosopher who played a major role in the scientific revolution.

In 2014 Mongolia issued a set of 6 stamps with famous scientists.

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Traditional Housing in Mongolia

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Yurts have been the primary style of homes in Central Asia, particularly Mongolia, for thousands of years. Today even more than three-quarters of the population of Mongolia live in yurts. Mongolia is one of the last nomadic countries in the world.

 

Yurts (Ger in Mongolian language) have existed for thousands of years in Central Asia, in virtually the same form as they exist today. They are ideal dwellings for the nomadic cultures of the Central Asian steppe. So not only in Mongolia yurts are important. In northern China, in the Inner Mongolia region, people live in yurts. The Siberian nomads of Russia, the Tuva, also use yurts as they follow the reindeer herd.

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Dzjengis Khan

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A herd of Przewalski's horses in Mongolia

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Przewalski's horse is a rare and endangered subspecies of wild horse. First described in the late 19th century by Russian explorer N. M. Przewalski, the horse once freely roamed the steppe along the Mongolia-China border. Never again seen in the wild, Przewalski’s horses have since been kept and bred in captivity and have recently been reintroduced in Mongolia.

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From a set of 4 stamps: Wild Animals, the Yak (2011).

This postcard travelled a very long time to reach its destination (my home). Well, Mongolia is far away, but….. there is another reason. Our local mailman decided not to deliver all of the mail, but save some in his garage. He was caught recently and about 10 days ago I found appr. 60 postcards in my mailbox. My missing postcards since 2011!

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Mongolian nomads

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On the edge of the 21st century, Mongolia remains one of the only countries to retain its ancient culture and traditions. The extreme climate and geography as well as the landlocked condition greatly influenced the Mongol's way of life who have always lived close to their animals and the land.

The Mongolian nomads are often called "Five-animal people" because the nomadic society is based on the five principal animals traditionally herded: horses, camels, cattle, sheep and goats. They also keep Tibetan yaks, used for producing milk and cheese.

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From a set of 4 stamps: Wild Animals, the Yak (2011). 

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A postcard from Mongolia

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A child in the countryside is milking a goat. Many children go to the countryside during their summer vacation to help their grandparents or parents. When summer vacation is over they go back to their provincial schools that are located far away from the countryside.

 

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From a set of 4 stamps: Wild Animals, the Camel (2011).

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