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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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Mongol
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INFOTEXT
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1992-09-01
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Member of any of the various Mongol (or
Mongolian) ethnic groups of Central Asia.
Mongols live in the Mongolian People's
Republic, the USSR, Inner Mongolia, Tibet,
and Nepal. The Mongol language belongs to the
Altaic family; some groups of Mongol descent
speak languages in the Sino-Tibetan family
however. The Mongols are primarily pastoral
nomads, herding sheep, horses, cattle, and
camels. Traditionally the Mongols moved with
their animals in summer to the higher
pastures, returning in winter to the lower
steppes. The government of the Mongolian
People's Republic now encourages more
sedentary forms of pastoralism, and winter
quarters are often more permanent. About 60%
of the Mongolian population live in
felt-covered domed tents known as gers. Many
Mongols are Buddhist, although the Mongolian
government has been communist since 1924.
During the 13th century AD, under Genghis
Khan, the Mongols conquered Central Asia and
attacked Eastern Europe. Kublai Khan, the
grandson of Genghis Khan, was the first
emperor of the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) in
China.