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Modern Mongolia: Reclaiming Genghis Khan
Mongolia, a country that evokes romantic curiosity on the part of American readers, has emerged from its former Soviet cocoon. It has achieved independence, democracy, and a twenty-first-century market economy. This book provides factual information about Mongolia and new ways of looking at a historical figure, Genghis Khan, whose ideals of nationhood and democratic principles are in practice now.
Modern Mongolia is unique in providing multiple perspectives—Mongolian and American, scholarly and less formal—about the country's developments in a readable style, richly illustrated with 120 full-color contemporary and archival photographs, both scenic and artifactual.
The first chapter provides an overview of Mongolian geography and history to the twentieth century and the author's personal experience as a teenager during the 1989-90 democratic revolution. Chapter 2, by a Mongolian historian, recounts the exciting changes from Manchu Dynasty feudal society and autonomous theocracy to Communist nationhood and, finally, full independence as a democratic nation. The third chapter, by a cultural historian, describes the effects of historical changes on the daily life of Mongolian nomads—their clothing, family dwellings (gers), and furnishings. Chapter 4, by an American political anthropologist, shows the connection between modern Mongolians' devotion to democracy and the political ideas of Genghis Khan.
Readers of all ages seeking an accessible and picturesque presentation of Mongolian history and society will find Modern Mongolia a fascinating introduction.
PMIRC, volume 2
Modern Mongolia is unique in providing multiple perspectives—Mongolian and American, scholarly and less formal—about the country's developments in a readable style, richly illustrated with 120 full-color contemporary and archival photographs, both scenic and artifactual.
The first chapter provides an overview of Mongolian geography and history to the twentieth century and the author's personal experience as a teenager during the 1989-90 democratic revolution. Chapter 2, by a Mongolian historian, recounts the exciting changes from Manchu Dynasty feudal society and autonomous theocracy to Communist nationhood and, finally, full independence as a democratic nation. The third chapter, by a cultural historian, describes the effects of historical changes on the daily life of Mongolian nomads—their clothing, family dwellings (gers), and furnishings. Chapter 4, by an American political anthropologist, shows the connection between modern Mongolians' devotion to democracy and the political ideas of Genghis Khan.
Readers of all ages seeking an accessible and picturesque presentation of Mongolian history and society will find Modern Mongolia a fascinating introduction.
PMIRC, volume 2
148 pages, Paperback
First published October 9, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 15, 2018
I enjoyed this book, and I'll certainly leaf through it again in the future. It contains a lot of information about one of the world's oldest, and most interesting countries. Worth picking up for anyone interested in geography, history, cultures, or Asia in general.
February 3, 2019
A pretty basic introduction of Mongolian democracy and history, albeit with some weird skews and forgotten corners I would've wanted to see typed out. Full of photos from, like, 2001, didn't seem like the best assigned reading for my SIT semester away. Not great, but not bad!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews