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The East-West Trade through the Steppe Roads in Qara-Qorum Relics of the Mongol Empire

Kim Kyongna 1

1서울대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we examined the continuity of the meadow trade route through a study of Qara-Qurum, the capital of the Mongol empire in the 13th century, as a point of the prairie trade route, and confirming aspects of trade in the Mongol empire through artifacts excavated from the capital. As a part of the Mongol Empire, previous research on Qara-Qurum had focused on studying its fossil records and city origins, but discussions on the excavated artifacts were largely inactive. In this paper, I examined the traces of eastern and western trade on the meadow road with evidence derived from the relics housed at the Mongol KharKhorin Museum and remains kept secure at the Hermitage Museum of Russia. Russian scholars believe most of the remains unearthed in Qara-Qurum came from other parts of the world and were not local to the region. Bronze mirrors, which are believed to have come from Goryeo, show signs of exchanges with the Far East. Qara-Qurum was the capital city of the Mongol Empire during the short period, and did not get attention as the East-West Trade through the steppe roads at that time. However, given the historicity of Qara-Qurum, its excavation and investigation are important steps in studies of the Mongol Empire. To set Qara-Qurum as the middle point of the northern steppe trade route are also needed.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.