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Urban centres and the emergence of empires in Eastern Inner Asia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2015

J. Daniel Rogers ,
Erdenebat Ulambayar  and
Mathew Gallon
J. Daniel Rogers
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, NHB 112, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USA (Email: rogers.daniel@nmnh.si.edu)
Erdenebat Ulambayar
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, NHB 112, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USA (Email: rogers.daniel@nmnh.si.edu)
Mathew Gallon
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, Gucov Street 77, Ulaanbaatar-51, Mongolia
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Abstract

The inner mechanics of Mongol empires are revealed through recent surveys by an American-Mongolian team. The large political confederations of high mobility which traditionally characterise the great Mongol empires of the first and second millennia AD are shown to have made use of highly sophisticated urban places which feature advanced planning and design, and impressive monumentality serving a variety of specific functions. Planning included open spaces within the walls reserved for the erection of tents.

Keywords

MongoliaMongolcivilisationempireurbanism
Type
Research
Information
Antiquity , Volume 79 , Issue 306 , December 2005 , pp. 801 - 818
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd. 2005

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