U368 Mongol Conquest Lecture
Week 2, Wednesday:  Pastoralism

 

  1. Mongolian pastoral nomadism
    1. Nomadism--Yearly circular migration
      1. Why nomadism?
        1. Low resources, not enough grass to mow for winter
        2. Mongolian rainfall low, in winter and late summer
        3. Mongolian climate cold--short growing season
      2. What is nomadism?
        1. Not unplanned wandering, not invasion
        2. Good knowledge of land and grass crucial for success
        3. Nomadism:  regular alternating use of pastures in a large area
      3. Yearly cycle
        1. Winter pastures--November to April
          1. Key danger is cold and wind, key need is for grass
          2. Sometimes corrals and mowing at winter pastures
        2. Spring pastures--March to April
          1. Level easy pastures--animals at their weakest
        3. Summer pastures--March to September
          1. Milking and shearing time
          2. Need water, cool, breezy; best pastures saved for winter
        4. Autumn pasture--September to November
          1. Easiest weather, camp close to winter
      4. Scope of nomadism--varies with density
        1. From 100-180 mile circle to two camps a few miles apart
    2. Pastoralism--the animals
      1. Five snouts of animals (tabun qoshi'u mal)
        1. Horse
          1. Major animal--hero of Mongol epics
          2. Mongols ride geldings
          3. Milked for kumiss/airag
          4. Horse hair
          5. Meat and blood
        2. (Two hump) Camels
          1. Draft
          2. Hair
          3. Milked
        3. (Horned) Cattle
          1. Milk
          2. Draft animal
          3. Horns for bows
        4. Sheep and gotas
          1. Main meat animal
          2. Wool for felt:  rugs and yurts
          3. Skins, wool for clothes
      2. Fuel--mostly animal dung
    3. The Yurt (Mongolian ger)
      1. Basic form
        1. Lattice work walls (willow), smoke hole, radiating spoke roof
        2. Sheep's wool felt covering
      2. Changes over time
        1. Earliest nomads in carts iwth houses on them
        2. Chinggis Qan's time, collapsible, built on carts, squarish
        3. Now round, never built on carts
    4. Hunting
      1. Food hunting--marmots, other rodents
      2. Skin hunting--sables, otters, fox, marmots, etc.
      3. Defensive hunting--wolves
    5. Trade and economic relations with the outside
      1. Nomad imports
        1. Necessities:  millet, cloth (cotton, silk), later tea
        2. Indigenous smithing still practiced, but luxury goods desired
      2. Exports
        1. Wool, live sheep, horses (for armies), skins, leather
        2. Milk and cheese, meat, little traded
      3. Trade or raid
        1. Trade and/or raid satisfied "middle class"
        2. Tribute satisfies upper class
      4. Trade with forest zone
        1. Falcons, fur-bearing sables, etc.--high-end market in Eurasia
        2. Nomads could get rich by controlling this trade
      5. Caravan routes between China, Middle East, India, Byzantium
        1. Nomads could get rich by controlling these routes
        2. Protection racket