Ancient-Medieval Mongolian Cities and Settlements: Transport Networks and the Structure of Nomadic Systems

Abstract

This study examines cities and settlements in the territory of Mongolia from the Xiongnu to the Khitan period from the perspective of transport networks, interpreting them in relation to the spatial organization of nomadic societies. It employs a comparative analytical approach based on the distribution and locational patterns of archaeological sites, previous scholarly classifications, and historical sources.

The findings demonstrate that medieval cities and settlements in Mongolia were not independent entities, but components of an integrated system interconnected through transport networks. These sites were concentrated in river basins and key nodal zones, while small, similarly structured earthen-walled enclosures appear at regular intervals along connecting routes. These features can be reinterpreted as roadside settlements or relay stations.

From the Xiongnu through the Turkic, Uighur, and Khitan periods, transport networks developed continuously, becoming increasingly organized and hierarchical. This indicates that nomadic societies were not spatially fragmented, but structured through networked spatial organization. Examining cities and settlements in relation to transport networks is therefore essential for understanding the social, economic, and political systems of early Mongolian societies.