The exhibition project “Genghis Khan and his heirs” mainly aims at demonstrating the high level of sophisticated political organisation of Eurasian steppe empires, especially those under Mongolian domination. The building of these states only was possible through the steady exchange of political ideas, economic organisation and mutual cultural influences between sedentary societies as China, Iran, Russia and nomadic groups in the steppes.

The exhibition starts with two forerunners of nomadic steppe empire, the Xiongnu (4rd century BC -2nd century AD) and the Turks (6th/9th century AD), whose intercultural relations to China and Central Asia are presented by recent archaeological findings in Mongolia.

The apogée of Mongolian domination over most of Asia and Eastern Europe by Genghis Khan and his heirs stands in the centre of the exhibition. Exemplified by excavation of the old Mongolian capital of Qaraqorum, the metropole of the Steppe world attracting trade, crafts, religions, literature, financial, and administrative skills from all over the known world. The successor empires of the Golden Horde in Russia, the Cagatay in Central Asia, the Ilkhane in Persia and the Yuan dynasty in China are presented by refined and precious artwork from recent archaeological findings.

The exhibition closes on two far-reaching topics of Mongolian history – the role of Buddhism since the 13th century and the 20th century as “a long century” that led Mongolia from traditional nomadic life through socialism and warfare to the actual participation at globalisation development.