People
Mongols
Монгол
Three travelers wrote about Mongols between 1245 and 1943. Here is what each of them saw, in the order they were there.
- 1245–1247
The Voyage of John of Plano Carpini
Carpini's spelling of 'Mongol' — the people's own name, as against the European 'Tartar.' He gives Europe its first ordered description of their homeland, customs, dress, food, warfare, and laws.
…their return from conquering the Naymani and Cara-Cathayans, the Mongals prepared to go to war with the Kythaos, or Cathayans; but the Mongals were defeated in a…Listen from here · chapter 10, 0:06…this repeatedly till the ice was thick and strong, they attacked the Mongals with great fury; but when the Mongals threw their darts, or shot their arrows at them,Listen from here · chapter 12, 0:22 - 1253–1255
The Journal of William of Rubruck
Rubruck's spelling of 'Mongol' — the people's own name for themselves, as against the European 'Tartar.' One rich Moal, he writes, might own two hundred carts to carry his felt tents and chests.
…The flocks and herds of this Vut-khan pastured to the borders of the Moal, among whom was one Zingis, a blacksmith, who used to steal as many cattle as he possibly…Listen from here · chapter 21, 2:42…of the exaltation of the Holy Cross, there came to us a certain rich Moal, whose father was a millenary or captain of a thousand horse, who informed us that he had…Listen from here · chapter 24, 1:56 - 1884–1943
Under a Lucky StarRoy Chapman Andrews
The nomad herding people of the steppe, whose horsemanship, hospitality, and Lamaist faith fill Andrews' Mongolian chapters.
…and I am sure it is not too much to say that ninety per cent of all Mongols are afflicted with venereal trouble of some kind.Listen from here · chapter 16, 2:41…We were camped on the shore of a lovely desert lake called by the Mongols, Chagan Nor, the "White Lake." Across the water, beyond a rim of fantastic sand dunes,…Listen from here · chapter 19, 15:49
Hear every account in full
Each book here is narrated end to end on Sonsoo, a small audiobook library of Mongolia and Central Asia. Listening is invitation only.
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