Stories from Altai · Mongolia

A discussion touched upon the historical military structure of Mongol tribes, specifically mentioning the '44 Tumen of Mongols and 4 Tumen of Aerats'. A 'tumen' is defined as 10,000 warriors. The Aerats are described as a specific group of western Mongol tribes who maintained their own territory in the western steppe regions, including the Altai area. This historical migration had demographic and cultural consequences. Historical records indicate that Mongol tribes undertook westward migrations. These movements resulted in the displacement of Turkic peoples. This migration pattern significantly altered the demographic and political landscape of the regions involved. The Kalmyks, a Mongol-origin people, initially appeared in Irtysh, Siberia, where they had their first contacts with Russians. Historical records indicate they did not gain power in the Dzungar Khanate.