Mongolia

Where the name comes from

Mongolia means “land of the Mongols”, whose name appears in Chinese records as Mungu in the 700s; its meaning is uncertain.

First people

Nomadic herders have lived on these grasslands for thousands of years.¹

Known for

After the Mongol tribes united under Genghis Khan in 1206, their conquests created the largest connected empire in history, stretching from East Asia to Europe.²

Outside contact

Outer Mongolia came under Qing rule in 1691.¹

The modern country

It declared independence in 1911 and became a republic in 1924; China recognized its independence in 1946.¹