“The period of the Mongol Empire is the most important stage for the formation of the Eurasian civilization. The Mongol Empire contributed to the development of ethno-cultural processes in Eurasia thanks not only to trade, but also to cultural exchanges, leasing of technologies and intellectual interaction between the peoples of Eurasia, as well as the synthesis of nomadic and sedentary civilizations,” underscored Dr. Oleg Lushnikov, Director of the Center for Eurasian Research of Russia in his presentation “The Great Mongol Empire as the World-System of the Middle Ages and Its Contribution to the Foundation of Eurasian Integration” at XII International Congress of Mongolists in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

“The period of the Mongol Empire is the most important stage for the formation of the Eurasian civilization. It was a very large-scale integration process covering the entire period of Antiquity and the Middle Ages. For us it is also the foundation as to formulate certain basic principles of the Eurasian integration in the 21st century. At present, the world-system approach is the most promising methodology for describing large-scale historical processes, for identification and explanation of the patterns of economic and political cycles. Moreover, it must be mentioned that this paradigm has all the prospects to use a rigorous apparatus of exact sciences for constructing mathematical models of systems of different levels – from mini-systems to the global world-system.”

“The world-system is a set of systems of societies united by close economic ties, acting as specific evolving units, but not always merged into a particular political formation. Trade communications connect different regions and cultures, and form a common macroeconomic area. Even more changes occurred after the crusades and the rise of the Great Mongol Empire in the XIII century. Thus, we can speak about the creation of the "Eurasian world-system ".

“The Mongols formed a largest ancient network of trade and economic routes from China to Europe, the Silk Road. They contributed to the growth of transcontinental trade, the influx of innovations in Europe, and the inclusion of India in closer relations with other parts of the world-system (due to the Islamization in the era of the Great Moghuls and the growth of the East-West spice trade). The Pax Mongolica crisis and the disintegration of the Mongol Empire resulted eventually from the Black Death pandemic and the formation of the Ottoman Empire that had blocked the Levantine spice trade. Those factors facilitated the search for sea routes to India and the development of new technologies and mercantilism, a precursor of capitalism in Europe, which led to the creation of the “European Center" world-system in the XVI-XIX centuries.”

“Рах Mongolica between 1250 and 1350 was not only trade relations, but also intercultural exchange, leasing of technologies, and intellectual interaction of the peoples in Eurasia. There was a synthesis of nomadic and sedentary civilizations.

The culture and science, the literature and art of the peoples of the Mongolosphere had been further developed. Medicine, history, mathematics, astrology and science prospered in the cities of the Mongol Empire. Moreover, Muslim doctors and astronomers from Iran worked at the Yuan court in Khanbalik, and Chinese experts transferred their knowledge to the peoples in the Middle East. Persian miniature and Yuan painting occupy a special place in the imperial cultural heritage. Prestigious products manifested the imperial culture most vividly as well as the nobility's clothing: costumes, paizis, waistbands, weapons, horse harness, accessories, and even hairstyles.”

“In general, it is plain to see the magnificent culture of the Mongol Empire absorbed the traditions of the cultures of all the imperial peoples, all the richness of the steppe nomadic (Mongolian, Kipchak, Kimak, et cetera), Muslim (Bulgar, Khorezm, Iranian), Central Asia and Far East elements of material and artistic culture,” noted Dr. Oleg Lushnikov.

XII International Congress of Mongolists is convening for the third day today in Ulaanbaatar and will be closed tomorrow evening.