Daily Life

Life for the Mongols was tough, but they knew how to survive. They lived on the wide grasslands called the steppe, where there were no cities and very few trees. Summers could be very hot, and winters were freezing cold. Because it was hard to grow crops, the Mongols moved often to find grass for their animals.

Food came mostly from animals. Mongols drank milk from horses, sheep, and goats. They made cheese and yogurt, which lasted a long time and was easy to carry. Meat was eaten when needed, and nothing was wasted. This simple diet gave them energy for travel and riding.

Mongol families lived in round tents called gers. Gers were easy to take apart and move. Families moved their gers to find fresh grass for their animals, like horses and sheep, and to reach warmer or more protected areas during the winter. This traveling life helped keep their animals healthy and alive.

The Mongols believed in the Eternal Blue Sky, which they thought watched over the world. They also believed fire was sacred, so it was treated with care and respect. Fire kept families warm, cooked food, and protected them at night.

For fun, Mongol children played knuckle bone games using small animal ankle bones. Each side of the bone stood for a different animal, like a horse or sheep. Players would toss the bones into the air and catch them, or try to land them in certain ways to score points. The goal was to collect the most bones. These games helped children practice quick thinking and steady hands.

Life on the steppe was not easy, but it made the Mongols strong, clever, and ready for anything.