Oriental Languages and Cultures

General objectives: The course of History and Culture of Mongolia aims to provide students with an overview of the history of Mongolia, starting with the rise of Mongolian power up to the birth of the Mongolian People's Republic. A quick overview of the populations that preceded the Mongols will be also given. During the course, aspects of culture and nomadic society will be analyzed with particular emphasis on the socio-economic implications, favoring an interdisciplinary approach and the critical use of the sources. Particular attention will be given to the historical and cultural relationships with neighboring countries, in particular with China and other Central Asian countries, deepening the methods of interaction and mutual influence. An overview of Mongolian language as well as the relations with the West will finally allow us to better delineate the essential features of Mongolian civilization. In addition to lectures, students will be asked to produce presentations (in ppt) or term papers on specific topics agreed with the teacher in order to deepen themes and encourage the production and processing of the concepts acquired. Specific objectives: At the end of the course the student has acquired the essential features of the political and economic history as well as of social and cultural aspects of the Mongols from their emergence up to the establishment of the People's Republic of Mongolia- At the same time he has acquired the knowledge of the interrelations and connections between them and the countries with which they came into contact, in order to make him able to correctly deal with the study of other related subjects. He is aware of the historical methodologies and the main themes and problems of Mongolian history. He is able to deal with historical and cultural themes related to the country in an original and autonomous way. Through the preparation of presentations (ppt) or term papers agreed and supervised by the teacher, he develops the ability to explain and communicate the contents learned and to make valid judgments in the historical field.