Everything about Karakorum totally explained
Karakorum (also
Khara-khorin,
Qara Qorum in Classical Mongolian) was the capital of the
Mongol Empire in the
13th century, although for only about 30 years. Its ruins lie in the northwestern corner of the
Övörkhangai Province of
Mongolia, near today's town of
Kharkhorin, and adjacent to the
Erdene Zuu monastery. They are part of the upper part of the
World Heritage Site Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape.
History
Foundation
The Orkhon valley had already been a center of the
Xiongnu,
Göktürk and
Uighur empires. To the Göktürks, the nearby
Khangai Mountains had been the location of the
Ötükän, and the Uighur capital
Karabalgasun was located close to where later Karakorum would be erected. This area is probably also one of the oldest farming areas in Mongolia.
In 1218/19,
Genghis Khan rallied his troops for the campaign against the
Khwarezm Empire in a place called Karakorum, but the actual foundation of a city is usually said to have only occurred in 1220. Until 1235, Karakorum seems to have been little more than a
yurt town, only then, after the defeat of the
Jin empire did Genghis' successor
Ögedei erect walls around the place and build a fixed palace.
Prosperity
Under Ögedei and his successors, Karakorum became a major site for world politics. Möngke had the palace enlarged, and the great stupa temple completed.. He described the walled city as having four doors in the four directions, two quarters of fixed houses, one for the "Saracenes" and one for the "Cathai" (= Northern Chinese), twelve pagan temples, two
mosques, as well as a
nestorian church., in 1298/99 prince Ulus Buqa looted the markets and the grain storehouses. However, the first half of the 14th century proved to be a second time of prosperity: in 1299, the town was expanded eastwards, in 1311 and again from 1342 to 1346 the stupa temple (after 1346 known as "Pavillion of the Rise of the Yuan were renewed.
Findings of the excavations include paved roads, some
brick and many
adobe buildings, floor heating systems,
bed-stoves, evidence for processing of copper, gold, silver, iron (incl. iron wheel naves), glass, jewels, bones, and
birchbark, as well as ceramics and coins from China and Central Asia. Four kilns have also been unearthed.
Modern times
There have been repeated calls to relocate Mongolia's capital to Kharkhorin. This is supposed to heal all kinds of ills which currently plague Mongolia, however no tangible measures have been implemented so far .
Further Information
Get more info on 'Karakorum'.
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