Customer Reviews

Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol Empire

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This is a gem of historical history of the all of the Mongols, when I mean all, I mean all - Western, Eastern, Southern, and Northern tribes from early times to the present. The book is organized alphabetically and references are made so the reader can obtain further information after each topic.

Kudos to C. Atwood in putting this together!

I would recommend this for all Mongols and non-Mongols to crasp the impact of The Mongol Empire!

If you're Mongol, you may even pick up some knowlege about your own tribal lineage.

This book is simply amazing! It has virtually all the important information you will need to know on Mongolia and its history. I find it comes in handy whenever I need it and would recommend whoever interested in this part of the world buy a copy.

this is a MUST HAVE book .... great to refer to as you plow through Mongolian Travel and Adventure Books..... I'm thrilled to own it! Glad it was 'finally' published!

I am a Mongol who is learning so much from this encyclopedia. This has become a book which I keep on my desk (or by my bed), and read when I procrastinate or need to look up a topic. I was impressed with the range of coverage--the encyclopedia comments on anything and everything related to Mongols, from the historical to the contemporary. Obviously one book, no matter how great, cannot cover everything in great depth, but this book makes a superb attempt. As a sample, the first five entries are:

Abatai Khan (Ar Mongold Buddiin shashiniig abchirsan khaan)
Abbasid Caliphate (Mongoliin ezent gurentei tulgarsan Arabiin ezed)
Academy of Science (Mongoliin Shinjleh Uhaanii Academi)
Aga Buriat Autonomous Area (Buriadaas taslagdsan Buriadiin neg aimag)
Agriculture (see Animal husbandry and nomadism)...

Some entries are excellent (and very useful) essays on their own right on some very important subjects. The history of the Northern Yuan (a neglected part of the history of Eastern Mongols, from 1368 to 1634) comes to mind as I write this review.

Let me just emphasize one thing: this book focuses on ALL Mongols--not just Mongols of Mongolia, but Mongols who live in Obor (Inner) Mongol, Buriatya, Kalmykia, Khokh Nuur, and so on. Unfortunately, we Mongols from Ulaanbaatar know very little about our brothers and sisters who live beyond our borders. There are two kinds of borders, and both were created by unfriendly neighbors. There is of course the physical one, which separates Mongolia from Russia and China. Then there is a mental border, product of our narrow identity. We do not often include our brothers and sisters (Buriaduud, Obor Mongolchuud) in our definition of "Mongol." This is very sad and unfortunate.

Learning our history will help us redefine our identity of who a "Mongol" is, which I believe is one of the most important challenges of our generation. That is why an encyclopedia like this is so important. I thank Professor Atwood for taking such great care in writing this superb work.