Karakorum, also known as Kharkhorin, was the capital of the Mongol Empire from 1220 to 1260. Karakorum was located in the Orkhon Valley, in central Mongolia, and it was one of the most important cities of the medieval world. The city was founded by Genghis Khan in 1220, and it served as the capital of the empire under Genghis Khan and Ögedei Khan.
Karakorum was a major center of trade, culture, and administration, and it was a major symbol of the Mongol imperial power. The city was connected to the rest of the empire by the yam postal system, and it was a major node in the trade routes that connected China to the rest of Eurasia.
The Founding of Karakorum
The founding of Karakorum was a major political event, and it marked the establishment of the first major capital of the Mongol Empire. The city was founded by Genghis Khan in 1220, after the conquest of the Khwarezmian Empire, and it served as the capital of the empire under Genghis Khan and Ögedei Khan.
The city was built on a grand scale, and it was home to a diverse population that included Mongols, Chinese, Persians, Uyghurs, and various other peoples. The city was a major center of trade, manufacturing, and culture, and it was a major symbol of the cosmopolitanism of the Mongol Empire.
The Architecture of Karakorum
The architecture of Karakorum was a major synthesis of Chinese, Tibetan, and Persian architectural traditions. The imperial palace, called the Tumen Amgalan, was a massive complex that included a number of major buildings, including the throne hall, the residential halls, and the religious buildings. The palace was built in a style that combined Chinese and Mongol elements, and it was a major symbol of the Yuan imperial power.
The city also included a number of major religious buildings, including Buddhist monasteries, Taoist temples, Muslim mosques, and Christian churches. The most famous of the religious buildings was the great Buddhist monastery of Erdene Zuu, which was built in 1585 and which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The most famous of the architectural features of Karakorum was the famous “Silver Tree” fountain, a mechanical device that dispensed four different kinds of wine to the guests of the great khan. The fountain was built by a French artisan named Guillaume Boucher, and it was a major symbol of the cosmopolitanism of the Mongol court.
The Cosmopolitan Culture of Karakorum
The cosmopolitan culture of Karakorum was one of the most distinctive features of the Mongol Empire. The city was home to a diverse population that included Mongols, Chinese, Koreans, Tibetans, Uyghurs, Persians, and Europeans. The city was a major center of cultural exchange, and the Mongol court patronized a wide range of artistic and literary traditions.
The cosmopolitan culture of Karakorum was particularly visible in the religious life of the city. The city was home to Buddhist monasteries, Taoist temples, Muslim mosques, Christian churches, and Confucian temples, and the Mongol court patronized all of these religious traditions. The most famous of the religious figures in Karakorum was the Taoist monk Qiu Chuji, who was invited by Genghis Khan to the Mongol court and who wrote an account of his travels.
The cosmopolitan culture of Karakorum was also visible in the commercial life of the city. The city was a major center of trade, and it was connected to the rest of the world by a network of trade routes that included the Silk Road, the maritime trade routes, and the yam postal system.
The Decline of Karakorum
The decline of Karakorum was a major event in the history of the Mongol world. The city lost its status as the capital of the Mongol Empire in 1260, when Kublai Khan moved the capital to Khanbaliq (modern Beijing). The city was eventually abandoned in the late thirteenth century, and the city was destroyed by the Chinese in 1380.
The decline of Karakorum was a major factor in the political fragmentation of the Mongol Empire. The loss of the capital was a major blow to the prestige of the central khanate, and it was a major factor in the eventual fragmentation of the empire into four khanates.
The Legacy of Karakorum
The legacy of Karakorum is visible in modern Mongolia. The site of the city is now the location of the Karakorum Museum, which displays artifacts from the Mongol period. The site is also a major tourist destination, and visitors to Mongolia often visit the site of the ancient capital.
The legacy of Karakorum is also visible in the modern Mongolian national identity. The city is a major symbol of the cultural and political heritage of the Mongols, and the city is widely celebrated in the Mongolian national imagination. The city is also a major source of inspiration for contemporary Mongolian artists and writers.
Sources
- David Morgan, The Mongols (2nd ed., Oxford, 2007).
- Peter Jackson, The Mongols and the West, 1221–1410 (London, 2005).
- Timothy May, The Mongol Conquests in World History (London, 2012).