The Mongolians:
The Mongolians were a nomadic tribe of herdsmen and traders who traveled in groups of two or three families in Asia around 500BC. Traditional Mongolian life is based on the herding of five types of animals: cattle (including yaks), sheep, goats, camels, and horses. The products obtained from these animals satisfy nearly all of the Mongolian family’s basic needs. Nomadism demands a precise understanding of natural cycles and the suitability of different areas for pasturage for each type of herd. The various tribes had leaders known as chieftains and later khans. Although the tribes did not travel together they would come together in times of need and festivals.
Architecture:
Although since the mid 20th century Mongolia has become increasingly urbanized, more than half of Mongolians still live in the ger, either as nomads in the countryside or as permanent residents of towns and cities.The ger also known as the yurt is a portable tent home made from wood lattice frames and covered in felt which was processed from sheep's wool. They are cylindrical in shape with a rounded conical shaped top with a hole for smoke to exit. The basic framework of the ger is made up of several collapsible lattice wall sections, usually four or five in number; a low wooden door; two central supporting posts; the tono, a wheel-shaped roof frame; and approximately eighty roof poles. In assembling the ger, first the wall sections are unfolded and tied together in a circle; the door is them attached the outside of the walls. Next the roof frame is attached to the two supporting posts and raised in the centre of the ger, and the poles are set between the roof frame and the walls. Several large pieces of felt are tied together around the outside of the ger to provide insulation, and finally the ger is covered with a white cotton shell. The modern ger has the advantage of being quite warm in winter, due to the excellent insulating properties of felt, in addition to being quite easily moved- pending on the number of people involved, a ger can be disassembled or set up in as little as thirty minutes.
Clothing:
Their clothing consisted of leather boots with upturned toes and a one piece tunic tied at the waist called a del. It has long sleeves, a high collar and buttons on the right shoulder. A mans del may be short or long, where a women's del is always long. Cotton dels and felt dels lined with fur were worn depending on the season. The dels had no pockets so anything they wished to carry had to be hung from the belt. Both men and women wore hats decorated with sable and silver fox fur and in the summer they would be made from colorful fabrics such as velvet. Top hats with turned up rims were also worn.
Diet:
The Mongol diet consisted mostly of white food including mutton, milk, rice, flour, and yogurt. Meat is either cooked, used as an ingredient for soups or dumplings or dried for winter. Their diet also included a large proportion of animal fat, which is necessary for the Mongols to withstand the cold winters and their hard work. Winter temperatures as low as -40 °C and outdoor work require sufficient energy reserves. Milk and cream are used to make a variety of beverages, as well as cheese and similar products. Food was cooked over a fire or on hot stones that had been placed in or near a fire which was made from burning dried animal dung. Modern Mongolians usually cook in a cast-iron or aluminum pot on a small stove. Their main beverage was a salty tea which they would add milk, butter, and flour to to make a nourishing soup and it was drank at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Education:
Once the children understand and accept their surroundings, they are told tales and legends, riddles and proverbs, and are taught to respect parents, siblings, old people and strangers. Parents observe how their child responds to what is taught; monitor their behavior, speech and actions; and support and encourage the good actions and rectify wrongdoings. In order to develop a child’s knowledge and skills, the children are taught at a young age to tend and graze young animals, to water horses, to collect dry cattle dung, and to milk cows. Moreover, the parents teach the right nutrition, danger of over-eating or being hungry, and of choking. Special attention is paid to the children's toys and games to make them smart, clever, intelligent, honest and trustworthy. Another Mongol saying is “permanent scolding, rebuking of a child, intimidation, and threatening make them perverse and stubborn” therefore, a caring and loving education is considered important. However, excessive love and care may make a child capricious and spoiled. Thus, Mongols also believe in the saying “to be experienced instead of being spoiled.”
Beliefs:
These nomads were polytheistic as well as shamans. They worshiped all of nature which there were many customs and taboos around. Today most Mongolians are Buddhist though the old ways are still amongst them.
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