The Xiongnu confederation ruled present-day Mongolia from the third century BCE through the first century CE, living in portable, round tents on carts and round yurts. The Xiongnu aristocracy lived in small palaces, and … See more

Tents played a role in the development of Mongolian architecture, and these temporary shelters were frequently used under pastoral conditions. Tents were erected for See more

After two centuries of cultural decline, Mongolia began a renaissance during the second half of the 16th century. This was a period of relative … See more

Construction of temples in the renaissance tradition continued into the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. Ishbaljir (1709–1788) compared building … See more

The yurt, traditional dwelling of Mongolian nomads, is a circular structure supported by a collapsible wooden frame and covered with wool felt. In Mongolian, a yurt is known as a ger (гэр).
During the 12th and 13th centuries, ger-tereg (yurts on … See more

The remains of the Mongol Empire capital, Karakorum, were first rediscovered and studied by S. V. Kiselev. Karakorum, in the Orkhon River valley, was founded by Genghis Khan in … See more

The October Revolution destroyed much traditional culture, with over 800 monasteries demolished and thousands of lamas purged. The constructivist architecture which … See more