The Great Mongol Empire, created by Genghis Khan in 1206, was one of the most powerful states in the history of contemporary society. The territory of Mongol rule was a state formation from China all the way to the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Over time, the indigenous people conquered more and more lands and tribes, due to numerous wars and territorial conquests.
The Golden Horde - this is the name the Mongol state had over time - has an exceptional place in the history of the Middle Ages. It is a majestic empire with diverse culture and traditions, which are distinguished by originality and originality. One of the most popular cultural aspects is gambling, which the conquerors especially liked to play.
What gambling games were popular during Genghis Khan's time?
Gambling had a long tradition in the culture of Central Asia, where the Mongols came from. Even before the formation of the great state of Genghis Khan, people had fun in a variety of ways - they combined recreation with games for money or valuable items - jewelry, antique figurines or expensive household items. Over the years, this tradition took root in the culture of the people and became a common element of everyday life. With the unification of many tribes into a single empire by Genghis Khan, gambling became widespread among all strata of the population. The khan himself was a great supporter of this kind of entertainment and increasingly promoted the spread of games in the state. Genghis Khan noted that gambling is not only meant to entertain people, but also plays a key role in building character, teaching risk taking and perseverance, and as a result becoming winners.
Bones - "Hatuur"
As for games, the most common and favorite pastime of the Mongols was dice. The game was called "hatuur" and was very popular both among warriors and ordinary farmers and herders. For the game, bone or wooden cubes were used, on which symbols were applied. The rules were the simplest - players must place bets on the fallout of combinations of symbols, putting their own property on the line.
Gambling card games - "Nay", "Shatar"
After a short period of time, card games began to spread. Such types of games as "nai" and "shatar" were popular.
"Nay" is a type of preference, a card game with bribes (except the card term), in which two to four people played. Of course, it was possible to play with a larger number of players, but the dynamism and interest decreased, as each person present was forced to miss more than two hands in a row, which complicated the process.
Another type of gambling - "shatar" - is similar to chess, but it was unique in that it was played for money or valuable things. Interestingly, this game has a very fascinating legend. According to legend, 500 years before the creation of the Great Mongol Empire, there lived a khan who was constantly engaged in the training of soldiers and their training. He introduced into his army trusted persons who were responsible for security. Many other owners borrowed this innovation. Once the sage, under their influence, changed the tent, entering it with guards - new figures responsible for the safety of the ruler. This became the basis for creating figurines in the form of warriors.
Gambling played an important role in the social life of the Mongols. They were a way to spend time interestingly, an additional opportunity to earn extra money and demonstrate your thinking skills. At first, games were available only to the highest circle of society - the aristocracy and the military. During the heyday of Genghis Khan's state, game competitions were held with the participation of the khan himself or other representatives of the ruling elite. Mongol rulers often gave dice and decks of cards to conquered peoples, which demonstrated their subjugation. Even during negotiations, the khans and their vassals liked to gamble.
Gambling games of the Golden Horde
The era of the heyday of gambling is considered to be the time of the Golden Horde. Then the state was divided into uluses, and in each of them various types of games for money spread. Mongol khans increasingly encouraged the people to play by creating gaming houses and special gambling establishments. One of the largest centers of the state was the capital - Sarai-Batu. Many establishments were opened in the city where it was allowed to play dice, cards, chess and backgammon. A mandatory condition of the game was to pledge jewels, livestock or lands with slaves.
With the opening of gaming houses and taverns, gambling spread more and more among the common people. These places became the centers of Mongolian social life. Artisans, peasants and fishermen actively entertained themselves, discovering new games for themselves. They usually didn't do it out of curiosity or gambling interest, people just wanted to make money. In an effort to improve their financial situation, the people risked their last savings. And how upset they were when they lost and lost their own funds.
Other gambling entertainments of the Mongols
In addition to card games and dice, the Mongols were also fond of horse races, on the results of which players made bets. Warriors organized martial arts tournaments for warlords, where spectators bet on the winners. This is how the Mongolian people had fun and tried to make extra money.
Consequences, risks, prohibitions
At the same time, gambling during the time of the Golden Horde had negative consequences. In an effort to earn easy money and live a prosperous life, many people lost and got involved in debt bondage. Some khans, such as Batu, tried to limit access to games among their entourage, fearing the destructive influence of gambling.
Despite the risks and prohibitions, gambling has long occupied an important place in Mongolian social life. They were perfected and spread by the powerful empire until its collapse in the 15th century. However, even after the decline of the dynasty, these entertainments continued among other inhabitants of the Central Asian steppe - Kazakhs, Kalmyks and Kyrgyz. Historians claim that the gambling of the Mongols had a significant impact on the formation of the culture of modern countries such as China, Korea or Japan. Even in distant European countries, similar dice games, cards and dominoes, backgammon and chess are still found.
So, Gambling occupied an important place in the culture of the Great Power of the Mongols and the Golden Horde. They served as a subject for entertainment and recreation, but required a quick reaction and logical thinking, which formed a warlike and powerful empire. These games are a defining component of Mongolian culture, and as we delve deeper into their tradition, we can see how such seemingly small things left a huge imprint on the formation of an entire nation.