Sunday, September 8, 2013

The Other Great Khan: Ögödei

German and Mongolian researchers looking for the  tomb of Genghis Khan made a sensational discovery,  the remnants of the palace that Ghenghis Khan's third son, Ögödei, built.

In  an article about the discovery, Spiegel Online International suggests that historians see him as an "ingenious reformer," noting that "he introduced paper currency and even established a postal system."

But the city that he built in the middle of nowhere seems to amaze researchers the most. "Archaeologists have found the remains of large cottage industry workshops on the banks of the Orkhon River, all built by order of the ruling Khan. Agriculture and animal husbandry were also energetically pursued on the fertile pastures surrounding Karakorum."

No comments: