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Nomadic Institutions: The Origins of Kurultai

The recent seminar delved into the intriguing world of nomadic institutions, focusing on the kurultai, a key political, social, and legal gathering in the nomadic empires, particularly the Mongols. The kurultai was not just a meeting, but a powerful institution shaping the course of the Mongol empire and its successor states.

Key topics covered included:

Origins & Development
The kurultai evolved in the steppe as a central gathering of the ruling elite to make crucial decisions, such as selecting a new khan, launching a war, and redistributing wealth. The word itself, coming from “quri-” meaning to assemble, highlights the significance of unity and collective decision-making.

Who Attended?
These grand assemblies brought together the highest-ranking figures, including princes, military officials, religious leaders, and elite women. The largest kurultai could host up to several thousand guests.

Games & Hierarchy
Inside the kurultai, the lords and ladies were seated according to rank, with the day’s events filled with kumis drinking, meat sharing, and ceremonial toasts. The gathering also featured games, music, and competitions like archery and wrestling.

Legal Impact
The kurultai reinforced social hierarchy while promoting flexibility and consensus. As a legal institution, it helped establish, legitimize and communicate laws and decisions
across the empire.

Legacy
While the kurultai faded from historical records after the 14th century, its influence continued in successor states, including the Timurids, and remains relevant in modern times, although today the meaning and use of kurultai take a different turn.

This seminar provided a rich understanding of how such assemblies shaped not only the political landscape of the time but also the social fabric of nomadic empires.

The seminar is available on our YouTube channel:


OpenEdition vous propose de citer ce billet de la manière suivante :
ifeac (27 février 2025). Nomadic Institutions: The Origins of Kurultai. IFEAC. Consulté le 16 mai 2026 à l’adresse https://doi.org/10.58079/13dys