The Mongol Catastrophe For the Muslim east, the sudden eruption of the Mongol hordes was an indescribable calamity. Something of the shock and despair of Muslim reaction can be seen in the history of the contemporary historian Ibn al-Athir (d. 1233). He writes here about the year 1220-1221 when the Mongols (“Tartars”) burst in on the eastern lands. Is this a positive, negative, or neutral description of the Mongols? Why might the Mongols be compared to Alexander rather than, say, the Huns? they eat, [needing] naught else. As for their beasts which they ride, these dig into I say, therefore, that this thing involves the description of the greatest catastrophe the earth with their hoofs and eat the roots of plants, knowing naught of barley. and the most dire calamity (of the like of which days and nights are innocent) And so, when they alight anywhere, they have need of nothing from without. As for which befell all men generally, and the Muslims in particular; so that, should 0e say their religion, the‟ worship the sun when it arises, and regard nothing as unlawful, that the world, since God Almighty created Adam until now, hath not been afflicted for the; eat all beasts, even dogs, pigs, and the like; nor do they recognise the with the like thereof, he would but speak the truth. For indeed history doth not marriage-tie, for several men are in marital relations with one woman, and if a child contain aught which approaches or comes nigh unto it.... is born, it knows not who is its father. Now this is a thing the like of which ear hath not heard; for Alexander, concerning Therefore Islam and the Muslims have been afflicted during this period with whom historians agree that he conquered the world, did not do so with such calamities wherewith no people hath been visited. These Tartars (may God swiftness, but only in the space of about ten years; neither did he slay, but was confound them!) came from the East, and wrought deeds which horrify all who satisfied that men should be subject to him. But these Tartars conquered most of hear of them, and which thou shalt, please God, see set forth in full detail in their the habitable globe and the best, the most flourishing and most populous part proper connection. thereof, and that whereof the inhabitants were the most advanced in character and conduct, in about [a] year: nor did an‟ country escape their devastations which did Source. Edward C. Sachau, Alberiini‟s Indian, Vol. I (London: Kegan Paul, Trench, not fearfully expect them and dread their arrival. Truebner, 1910). pp. 17. 19, 20. Moreover they need no commissariat, nor the conveyance of supplies, for they have with them sheep, cows, horses, and the like quadrupeds, the flesh of which The Changing World of Mongolia's Nomads.--Melvyn C. Goldstein and Cynthia M. Beall (This excerpt is taken from a book, describes Mongol culture in the early 1990s) Shelter: We camped at Tsaganburgas for three wonderful weeks. The weather Nomad families can break camp and load all their possessions onto camels in was sunny and mild, the nomads relaxed and leisurely. Both sides of the clear blue roughly an hour. A modular structure is the key to its effectiveness. The 'wall' stream that bisected the steep mountain valley were dotted with bright white yurt consists of four or five wooden, collapsible accordian-like lattice fences resembling and a colorful mix of sheep, goats, yak and horses. Living there gave us our first those Americans use to prevent children from falling down stairs. Spread open and insight into the simple but effective technology the nomads had developed over the lashed together, they form a sturdy circular wall about five feet high. When it is centuries to cope with their harsh environment and to conduct their nomadic time to move on, each section collapses compactly into a flat unit about three feet pastoralism. wide that is easily loaded onto a camel. The roof section is also readily portable since it consists of 40 to 50 detachable broomstick-like wooden poles about five to Transportable shelters are essential to a pastoral nomadic way of life and, in the six feet long. One end of the pole fits into peg holes in the wooden "wheel" in the frigid cold of Mongolia, are a matter of survival, not just comfort. The Mongolian center of the roof that forms the opening for light and chimney pipes. The lower yurt, as we happily found out by living in one, is superbly adapted to this. It is easy end is threaded with a rawhide thong that loops around a lattice crosspiece in the to put up, take down, and transport, and it is also very warm and windproof. wall section. With these roof struts in place, the yurt has a rigid self-supporting frame, although a large yurt usually has an internal wooden pillar or two for water, milk , butter, and salt are gradually added and blended. The resultant additional stability. Most yurt we saw were about 16 feet in diameter and 72 feet beverage called milk-tea is white and tasty, though strangely neither like milk or high at the center. Insulation and wind protection came from one or two layers of tea. Mongolian nomads keep a warm pot of tea handy and drink bowlfuls felt sections that are about 25 feet long and four to five feet wide. These are throughout the day. The hospitality bowl was piled high with all sorts of goodies - strapped into the wall lattice and the roof and topped by sheets of white canvas, thick chunks of homemade cheeses, sugar cubes imported from the U.S.S.R., tied tightly with straps that circle the yurt like ribbons on a huge birthday gift. When chocolate-covered candies from Ulan Batar, and the staple grain food - bordzig. the herders fire up their metal, yak-dung stoves, the temperature inside the yurt This is a soft pastry made from a rolled out wheat dough that is deep-fried in lard becomes quite comfortable. We could sit five or six feet from the fire without a coat or cooking oil. The nomads make hundreds of these at one time and eat them for when the temperature outside was in the low teens. And after the fire died out at early morning and midday meals together with milk-tea, meat, cheese, and other bedtime, the temperature inside the tent remained 15-20 degrees warmer than dairy products. In the evening, they have a cooked meal, usually a stew. Haltar outside. But we could never forget the cold; when the outside evening temperature had just slaughtered a sheep, so he also set out a big metal basin filled with freshly fell below 0F, the inside temperature dropped well below 32F and froze our water boiled lungs, heart, stomach, intestines, liver, and the Mongol's favorite delicacy - and meat each night. Because the nomads... live in a climate where there is only pieces of solid fat. Mongolians, we quickly learned, love meat and fat, and in fact one growing season a year, they do not make long migrations to new pastures. consider meat without fat unappetizing and inadequate. Once, when we were The longest move we heard of took two days and was only 50 or 60 miles. Most trying to buy meat in town, a young man we knew brought us a leg of mutton but were less, taking only a day. ...There is no advantage to moving hundreds of miles refused payment because he said the meat wasn't good quality. It was lean, and because the district comprises 10,100 square miles of twisting mountains and taking money would be like cheating us. valleys, 99.9% of which is pasture land used by 115,000 head of livestock and The Hair Cutting Ritual: A major ritual event is the "hair-cutting" ceremony where about 4,000 people. Ranging from 7,800 to 11,000 feet above sea level, it is a we experienced Mongolian hospitality on a large scale. Hair cutting is a traditional stark landscape without trees or even shrubs. To an outsider it can seem devoid of nomad rite that has survived socialism. It marks the point at which a child is habitation, but in reality the mountains and valleys contain scores of named considered to have survived the danyurts of infancy - at either three or five years of campsites - neighborhoods - each occupied at a particular time of year, usually by age. Before this, parents do not cut their child's hair. As a consequence, we had a the same households. difficult time telling little boys and girls apart because both sported pigtails tied with bright, fluffy bows. The hair cutting rite normally takes place in the fall when the Hospitality: Halter is a 44 year-old herder whose household included his wife nomads are camped close to each other and the peak work period of summer Badam, his wife's widowed mother Otgon, and five children. We were seated on milking and butter-making is over. Parents invite scores of relatives, neighbors and the tiny foot-high stools called sandl that look like kindergarten furniture and are friends, and their yurt is jam-packed. Outside the scene resembles a suburban found in the guest section of every yurt - the left side away from the door. Haltar party in the U.S., except that instead of shiny parked cars, dozens of elegant began by taking an elegant agate snuff bottle from its bright silk brocade pouch; he horses are tethered alongside a few colorful Czech and Russian motorcycles.