Life in Genghis Khan's Mongolia

The Way People Live

by Robert Taylor

Known to history as bloodthirsty conquerors, the Mongols of the 12th and 13th centuries were a complex people who worshipped nature, revered their ancestors and respected the sanctity of the family at the same time as they enslaved children, plundered and slaughtered all who stood in their way.

Genres: Nonfiction

96 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My husband and I have been watching the Netflix series Marco Polo, and I keep telling him that the show should be called "Kublai Khan" or "The Mongols" - they are far more fascinating than Marco. This book filled in some of my historical gaps and is an informative overview of Mongolian customs, military practices, spirituality, and family life. I really enjoyed learning more about the intersection of European and Asian cultures that took place when Genghis and his small tribe from the Mongolian steppe expanded into the largest contiguous land empire in the history of the world. We are now watching The History Channel's The Vikings, and I see that this book series (The Way People Live) has a title called "Life Among the Vikings." Well worth reading.

[Natalie Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Life in Genghis Khan’s Mongolia” by Robert Taylor 4 stars
Of 32 Mongolian philosophy books, the only one available in English translation costs $69.99 on amazon.com and is not available in a local library or in interlibrary loan. I therefore read a more general book but there’s a lot about Mongolian philosophy in it. With over 31 ethnic groups, 329 distinct districts, and several language dialects (Turkic, Mongolic, etc.) the Mongolians have had limited opportunities to produce an innovative philosopher. Historically the Khannates were affiliated with Buddhism—more of a philosophy than a religion. They also had a strong impulse towards Stoicism. Their stoicism made their impulses to kill and invade less contradictory to their Buddhism. In contrast, however, they also love luxury and art. They were Stoic Dancers!
Invaded by Russian troops in 1921, Soviet influences would claim Marxism as a foremost philosophy in Mongolia.
In the 26 years since becoming independent in 1990, Buddhism and Mongolian Shamanism have been popular but 40% of Mongolians are not religious at all. There are many non-religious, non-philosophical festivals each year most relating to sports, animals, agriculture, food, art, music, and the change of seasons.
The predominant “philosophy”, then, must be a Buddhist closeness with nature, with small communities, and simplicity. Mongolia is emerging as a growing first-world nation with a strong economy, 98% literacy rate, increased higher education, and an environment that will undoubtedly be conducive to the growth of independent philosophers in the near future. One 2002 book calls the Mongolian philosophy “the philosophy of survival”

[Rick Mccray · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting and I learned several things I did not know before. As an example I learned that the Mongols were a superior military group because they were nomadic, learned excellent horsemanship from childhood and were used to horrible weather patterns on the steppes of Central Asia. The reason I only gave the book three stars is the insertion of the author's opinion in what purports to be a factual historical book. At times offensive and judgmental terms were used to describe the Mongols; I find this concerning, because the author would not likely use the same terms to describe his own people or their history. I enjoyed reading the book and it was informative; just not "true" in every aspect.