The Architectural Components of an Urban community in a Nomadic Community, Based on Written Sources and the Results of Archaeological Excavations in Karakorum

The Karakorum was the capital of the Mongol dynasty during the 13th century. In addition to Mongolia, the territory included China, Iran, Russia, and Eastern Europe. During these years, the city was the destination of many artisans, merchants, and scientists from all over the vast territory, who traveled to Mongolia to serve at the court of the Great Khan. Until recent years, much of the information about this ancient capital was limited to written sources provided by Chinese, Iranian, and European historians and globe trotters. With the expansion of archeological excavations in the area over the last two decades, many hidden corners of this historic site became available. Analyzing this information and matching it with historical documents can both answer any questions about the way of life of the Mongol rulers at the beginning of their reign, and can reveal the cultural interactions between these nomadic rulers and the subjugated nations. This article examines the latest information from archaeological excavations and their relevance to the surviving historical citations explains the main features of the first capital of nomadic rulers and examines the effects of their nomadic behavior on the settlement and design of the city. The data of this article have been collected by library methods and the obtained findings and the research has been done by the comparative-analytical method. The results of this study showed that the Karakorum is a pre-designed city with a specific geometric shape and has been built mostly for the settlement of people from dependent nations such as craftsmen, merchants, and court secretaries. The great Mongol Khan was content with staying only for a very short period in the suburbs, and to adhere to the nomadic way of life, he moved periodically from one settlement to another.