The Mongols: 1200-1500

     The Mongol empire encompassed a majority of Eurasia, making in the largest land-based empire in all of human history. Although the Mongols were great conquerors, their origins lay in pastoral people. Their culture differed from that of other civilizations at the time. A Franciscan friar William of Rubruck, observed the Mongol women during the mid 13th century. Men and women in Mongol society had set roles and traditions. In a house, the men's side faced west and the women's east. The men also never hung bows on the women's side, maybe as a sign of respect or women were not expected to be associated with weapons. Women had many domestic duties, William wrote "It is the duty of the women to drive the carts, get the dwellings on and off them, milk the cows, make butter and gruit [sour curd], and to dress and sew skins, which they do with a thread made of tendons. They divide the tendons into fine shreds, and then twist them into one long thread. They also sew the boots, the socks, and the clothing. They never wash clothes, for they say that God would be angered, and that it would thunder if they hung them up to dry. They will even beat those they find washing [their clothes]..they never wash their bowls, but when the meat is cooked they rinse out the dish in which they are about to put it with some of the boiling broth from the kettle, which they pour back into it. They [the women] also make the felt and cover the houses." (pg 495) 

When it comes to marriages, girls lived with their families until the man "buys them." Remarrying a widow was not an option as their beliefs stated that the widow would be reunited with her first husband after death. Polygamy was accepted among the Mongol culture where the wives were treated well. In the event that a husband would die, the son would take on his father's wives, except for his own mother. Compared to other cultures at the time, the Mongols seemed fairly radical and different which could be the reason for William's report of these people. 

Traditional Mongol women clothing