Page 16 - All About History - Issue 180-19

mongol empire

Domed roof
The domed roof meant that the wind
couldn’t lift it away, but it was also the
most complex part of the ger. It is here
that the roof poles, or uni, attach in
a ring, leaving a small opening at the
top that allows smoke from the fire to
leave the ger while allowing fresh air
to circulate. This would be covered in
bad weather to stop rain from coming
in to the structure.

Mongolian Circular shape

Gers are always circular,
ger and there a few reasons

for this, the foremost of
which is that this shape
allowed them to be
heated and cooled quickly
and efficiently. The lack of
corners also meant that
Mongolian Steppe, the structure was easier

to build, and that there
c.600 BcE – prEsEnt was no bad energy lurking
around inside.

hen the wind howls through the
Mongolian steppe, or the rain is beating
down, Mongolian nomads have never
Wreally needed to worry. Sheltered inside
their gers, they’re safe from the elements as they
bunker down with the family in their homes.
Gers have been in use for over 2,000 years, and
they have changed little in that time. Perfect for a
nomadic lifestyle, the gers are easy to deconstruct,
carry and then rebuild when Mongolians have
needed to move to find better land for grazing. Family affair
Always circular, the walls of the temporary Constructing and
buildings are made from lightweight wood that deconstructing gers was, and
forms a lattice to make it easily collapsible, and still is, a family affair. Both
this shell is then covered in felt and woollen men and women would pitch
covers before a layer of waterproof canvas is in, with younger children
draped over the entire structure. watching and learning from
Inside, nomads have carried out their daily lives their elders. Larger gers that
for centuries. There’s a stove for cooking and heat; held bigger families could
an altar for shamanists and Buddhists to carry be taken down in an hour,
out their worship; and room for up to 15 people to before being hauled across
live and sleep, with men in the western half and the Mongolian steppe by
women in the eastern half. While gers have no pack animals like horses,
windows, there is one door leading to the outside. camels and yaks.
The striking and reconstructing of the ger has
always been a family event. Taking between 30
minutes and three hours, the men build the walls,
while everyone helps with the layering of the felts
and canvas. Children learn from the elders in the
community, just like in everything else.
The traditional craftsmanship it takes to Floors
build the Mongolian gers has recently become In traditional gers, the floor, or shal, was often
recognised as Intangible Cultural Heritage by left bare. However, those with more money
UNESCO – a recognition of more than 2,000 years sometimes laid down felt, wool or hand-sewn
of cultural heritage on the Mongolian steppe. With carpets to provide more warmth and a more
around 30 per cent of Mongolians still living the homely feel. Royal tents belonging to those like
the Ilkhanid rulers also sported Persian rugs
nomadic lifestyle today, and cities all over the alongside other textiles from Iran, China and
country having ger districts, the gers are still just elsewhere in Central Asia.
as much in use as they were 2,000 years ago.

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