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'''Mongolia''' is a country in northeast [[Asia]], bordering [[China]], [[Russia]], and with a tiny border to [[Kazakhstan]].  The country's population estimate in 2002 was 2,694,432, and Mongolia's capital is Ulaanbaatar (sometimes spelled "Ulan Bator").  Ulaanbaatar is also home to a large portion of the thinly-populated country's citizens, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 800,000, although the President of Mongolia, Enkhbayar, has recently announced that Ulaanbaatar has 1,000,000 inhabitants.  Other prominent cities in Mongolia include Darkhan (meaning "smithy" or "blacksmith") which was a city created as a model town under Mongolia's communist rule, with a population of 95,500, and Choibalsan, with a population 47,000.  At 1,564,116 square kilometres, Mongolia is the nineteenth largest country in the world, but also the least densely populated nation on earth, with an average of 1.7 persons per square kilometer. After Kazakhstan, Mongolia is the second largest land-locked country on earth.

'''Mongolia''' is a country in northeast [[Asia]], bordering [[China]], [[Russia]], and with a tiny border to [[Kazakhstan]].  The country's population estimate in 2002 was 2,694,432, and Mongolia's capital is Ulaanbaatar (sometimes spelled "Ulan Bator").  Ulaanbaatar is also home to a large portion of the thinly-populated country's citizens, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 800,000, although the President of Mongolia, Enkhbayar, has recently announced that Ulaanbaatar has 1,000,000 inhabitants.  Other prominent cities in Mongolia include Darkhan (meaning "smithy" or "blacksmith") which was a city created as a model town under Mongolia's communist rule, with a population of 95,500, and Choibalsan, with a population 47,000.  At 1,564,116 square kilometres, Mongolia is the nineteenth largest country in the world, but also the least densely populated nation on earth, with an average of 1.7 persons per square kilometer. The majority of the population are Halh Mongols, and speak Mongolian.  The official language is Halh Mongol, but other dialects are spoken, and the second largest ethnic group in modern Mongolia are Kazakhs.  After Kazakhstan, Mongolia is the second largest land-locked country on earth.

Mongolia's historical significance is in the 12th century conquests of [[Genghis Khan]] (meaning "great khan" or great ruler), whose armies swept across what is now Russia and much of eastern [[Europe]], stopping at [[Vienna]], killing large numbers in their path.  Genghis Khan's cruelty can be seen in his method of conquest: cities and populations that immediately submitted to his rule were spared, and allowed to live freely, paying tribute, while those who fought back against the Mongol armies were ruthlessly slaughtered.  Arguably, Mongolia was that era's world power, and was feared by most of Europe.  Religious tolerances was one of the hallmarks of the Mongol empire, and the Mongol rulers mounted efforts in many regions to introduce foreign religions - in what is now Iraq and Iran, the Mongol rulers attempted to introduce Buddhism.

Mongolia's historical significance is in the 12th century conquests of [[Genghis Khan]] (meaning "great khan" or great ruler), whose armies swept across what is now Russia and much of eastern [[Europe]], stopping at [[Vienna]], killing large numbers in their path.  Genghis Khan's cruelty can be seen in his method of conquest: cities and populations that immediately submitted to his rule were spared, and allowed to live freely, paying tribute, while those who fought back against the Mongol armies were ruthlessly slaughtered.  Arguably, Mongolia was that era's world power, and was feared by most of Europe.  Religious tolerances was one of the hallmarks of the Mongol empire, and the Mongol rulers mounted efforts in many regions to introduce foreign religions - in what is now Iraq and Iran, the Mongol rulers attempted to introduce Buddhism.