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Mongolia is truly a land of contrasts. Her history
and politics encompass the Great Mongol Empire,
Socialist rule under the guidance of the USSR, and
now the free market economy. Geographical zones
include desert, mountain and open steppe, sometimes
located within a few kilometres of each other. The
climate ranges from + 40°C to - 40°C, with
spring and autumn lasting only a week or two in
between. On the streets of Ulaanbaatar it is not
surprising to see horsemen in traditional costume
or girls dressed in the skimpiest and most up to
date fashions. A car park might have a Toyota Landcruiser
beside a Russian jeep, next to a horse with its
legs hobbled. In the countryside families travel
long distances to collect wood on their yak and
cart, then return to their ger to watch satellite
TV powered by a solar panel.
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Mongolia has developed
over the centuries, being much influenced by religious
faith. In ancient times people worshiped the sky,
fire and their ancestors. Shamanism was also widely
practiced, whereby certain people ("shamans")
could enter into a trance and communicate with the
spirit world. Tibetan Buddhism became the official
State religion under the rule of Khublai Khan in
the late thirteenth century, but was popularised
in the sixteenth century and encouraged by the Chinese
rulers who intended Buddhism to pacify these fierce
warrior nomads. The Socialist ideal, especially
under Stalin, did a lot to destroy the faith, by
shipping off most of the monks to Siberian labour
camps and burning down the monasteries. However,
since the early 1990s Mongolians are free to practice
whatever faith they choose, and there are many new
monasteries being founded and used in all parts
of the country.
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On the Internet are many sources of information
about Mongolia. Below are some good sites
for further reading:
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www.cia.gov
The world fact book produced by the CIA gives
an up to date list of facts on all subjects
about present day Mongolia.
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www.travelblog.org
Gives a brief overview of Mongolian geography,
people, government, language
and economy.
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www.hikemongolia.com/embassies.htm
The website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
in Ulaanbaatar lists all Mongolian Embassies
and Consuls worldwide with contact
numbers.
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www.csen.org
Centre for the study of Eurasian nomads: information
about the Naadam festival.
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www.geocities.com
An easily readable and enjoyable account of
the history of Genghis Khan and the Mongol
Empire
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