Mongols facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Mongols

Total population
(10 million)
Regions with significant populations
Mongolia, China, Russia
Languages
Mongolic languages
Religion
Predominantly Tibetan Buddhism and Shamanism with minorities of Christianity, Islam, Atheism
Related ethnic groups
Khalkha, Daurs, Buryats, Evenks, Dorbots, Kalmyks, Oirats, Chakhars, Tumeds, Ordoses, Bayad, Dariganga, Urianhai, Uzemchin and Zakhchin.

The name Mongols (Mongolian: Монгол Mongol) explains one or more ethnic groups. A hard definition includes the Mongols proper (self-designation Monggol), which can be split into eastern and western Mongols. In a bigger sense, the Mongol peoples also people who speak a Mongolic language but use other self-designations, such as the Kalmyks of eastern Europe.

The name Monggol has its meaning in the Tungusic languages and usually means "the invincible ones". At first it was applied to a small and still insignificant tribe in the area of the Onon river. In the 13th century it grew into an umbrella term for a large group of tribes united under the rule of Genghis Khan.

The religion of the Mongols

The polytheistic (believing in many gods) Mongols thought that good and evil spirits controlled the world. They also believed in a most important god, who ruled all the spirits. They called him Tengri (TENG gree), which means, "the great god of heaven". The Mongols lived in fear of the spirits and hoped for blessings from them.

Every yurt had small idols made of felt. The wives and daughters of the nobles made these idols at sewing parties. The Mongols believed that these idols protected their families and animals. Before every meal they put food and drink on the idols' lips. They also prayed to them.

The Mongols believed that some men, called shamans (SHAH muns), had power over the spirits. The shamans were the priests of the traditional Mongol religion, called shamanism (SHAH muh NIZ um). The shamans were medicine men and witch doctors who used a special language when doing their magical rituals. The Mongols talked to their shamans before making big choices and followed their advice.

Other religions

The later empire of the Mongols had many people with many religions, including Christians. The most important Christian group in the Mongol Empire was the Nestorian Church, sometimes called the Church of the East. These Christians were named for Nestorius, bishop of Constantinople.

Related pages

• Mongol Empire

Images for kids

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  Asia in 500, showing the Rouran Khaganate and its neighbors, including the Northern Wei and the Tuyuhun Khanate, all of them were established by Proto-Mongols

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  Mongol man with a hat, Yuan dynasty

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  Mongol wearing a hat, 14th c.

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  Yuan dynasty Mongol rider

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  A portrait of Kublai Khan by Araniko (1245–1306)

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  Mongol huntsmen, Ming dynasty

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  Map showing wars between Qing Dynasty and Dzungar Khanate

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  A Dzungar soldier called Ayusi from the high Qing era, by Giuseppe Castiglione, 1755

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  The Battle of Oroi-Jalatu in 1755 between the Qing (that ruled China at the time) and Mongol Dzungar armies. The fall of the Dzungar Khanate

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  Khorloogiin Choibalsan, leader of the Mongolian People's Republic (left), and Georgy Zhukov consult during the Battle of Khalkhin Gol against Japanese troops, 1939

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  World War II Zaisan Memorial, Ulaan Baatar, from the People's Republic of Mongolia era.

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  Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj (right)

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  A Mongolic Ger

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  Buddhist temple in Buryatia, Russia

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  Timur of Mongolic origin himself had converted almost all the Borjigin leaders to Islam.

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  Mongols grazing livestock, by Roy Chapman Andrews photographs in 1921

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  Mural of a Mongol family, Yuan dynasty

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  The Mughal Emperor Babur and his heir Humayun. The word Mughal is derived from the Persian word for Mongol.

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  This map shows the boundary of the 13th-century Mongol Empire and location of today's Mongols in modern Mongolia, Russia and China.

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  Mongol women in traditional dress

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  Strong Mongol men at August games. Photo by Wm. Purdom, 1909

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  Mongol Empress Zayaat (Jiyatu), wife of Kulug Khan (1281–1311)

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  Genghis' son Tolui with Queen Sorgaqtani

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  Hulegu Khan, ruler of the Ilkhanate

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  13th century Ilkhanid Mongol archer

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  Mongol soldiers by Rashid al-Din, BnF. MS. Supplément Persan 1113. 1430-1434 AD.

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  Kalmyk Mongol girl Annushka (painted in 1767)

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  A 20th-century Mongol Khan, Navaanneren

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  The 4th Dalai Lama Yonten Gyatso

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  Dolgorsürengiin Dagvadorj became the first Mongol to reach sumo's highest rank.

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  Mongol women archers during Naadam festival

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  A Mongol musician

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  A Mongol Wrangler

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  Buryat Mongol shaman

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  Kalmyks, 19th century

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  Mongol girl performing Bayad dance

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  Buryat Mongols (painted in 1840)

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  Daur Mongol Empress Wanrong (1906–1946), also had Borjigin blood on maternal side.

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  Buryat Mongol boy during shamanic rite

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  Concubine Wenxiu was Puyi's consort

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  A Mongolian Buddhist monk, 1913

See also

In Spanish: Mongoles para niños