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What led to Mongolia's eclipse from the world stage was, ironically, a question of succession.  Genghis Khan died unexpectedly, and his generals were summoned back to the (then) capital Kharkhorum (now a ghost town in Mongolia) to choose a new "khan," meaning king.  For reasons not entirely clear, the Mongols never re-gained their dominant power, and Mongolia entered a centuries-long period of decline, becoming what was essentially a backwater dominated by Siberian nomadic rulers and Chinese dynastic officials.   

What led to Mongolia's eclipse from the world stage was, ironically, a question of succession.  Genghis Khan died unexpectedly, and his generals were summoned back to the (then) capital Kharkhorum (now a ghost town in Mongolia) to choose a new "khan," meaning king.  For reasons not entirely clear, the Mongols never re-gained their dominant power, and Mongolia entered a centuries-long period of decline, becoming what was essentially a backwater dominated by Siberian nomadic rulers and Chinese dynastic officials.   

In 1911, a native Mongolian uprising occurred, successfully overthrowing Chinese domination, and attempting to create a free Mongolian state.  The naiscent Mongolian state was in turn overthrown by the world's second (after Russia) communist revolution in 1921, led by Sukhe Bator (1894-1923).  The 1921 revolution installed a communist government which ruled from 1921 until the communist government was overthrown in 1990.

In 1911, a native Mongolian uprising occurred, successfully overthrowing Chinese domination, and attempting to create a free Mongolian state.  The naiscent Mongolian state was in turn overthrown by the world's second (after Russia) communist revolution in 1921, led by Sukhe Bator (1894-1923).  The 1921 revolution installed a communist government which ruled from 1921 until the communist government was overthrown in 1990.  In the years after 1990, Mongolia became a multi-party democracy, which -- in contrast to the almost previous 70 years -- actively sought ties with western countries, especially the US.