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There was little in Mongolia to attract conquerors, and there is little
today to lure builders of factories and high-rises. The chief resource
of Mongolia may well be grass, upon which most life depends. When the
grass in one place has been cropped by their sheep and horses, herders
simply dismantle their gers and move to another place. Few other nations
approach the end of the 20th century holding so true to traditions.
Cursed by a short growing season and fierce winters, Mongolia never
became populous. More than twice as large as Texas, it claims only 2.3
million people, perhaps no more than when Genghis founded his dynasty
in 1206. |
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