Translation and Multilingualism in Mongol and Post-Mongol Eurasia
This workshop is co-organized between TRANSLAPT, University of Münster, and the START project NoMansLand
Organising Committee
Prof. Dr. Philip Bockholt (University of Münster)
Dr. Bruno De Nicola (Austrian Academy of Sciences)
The conquests of Chinggis Khan in the thirteenth century mark the beginning of the establishment of the
Mongol Empire in Eurasia. As rulers, the Mongols became known for their adaptability and openness to the
customs and practices of most of the people they governed, which played a pivotal role in shaping the linguistic
and cultural landscapes of Eurasia. The empire’s administration and communication systems required
the translation of texts and the use of multiple languages, which became essential tools for governance,
diplomacy, trade, and cultural exchange. Additionally, intellectual elites in the empire were multilingual,
with scholars, secretaries, and traders using a variety of languages and linguistic registers depending on
the social and political context in which they communicated. The need to manage a multilingual empire
with varied traditions and knowledge systems led to the development and institutionalization of translation
practices that were not only practical but also transformative, shaping the very fabric of Eurasian societies
during and after the Mongol period.
These linguistic and cultural dynamics did not disappear with the decline of the Mongol Empire but rather
continued to flourish and evolve in successor states such as the Ottoman Empire, Timurid Central Asia, and
Mughal India. In the Ottoman Empire, multilingualism was vital for administering a diverse population and
for maintaining diplomatic relations across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Timurid Central Asia
emerged as a vibrant hub of cultural and intellectual exchange, where Persian, Turkish, and Arabic coexisted
and were utilised in the production of texts reflecting the region’s rich linguistic heritage. Likewise, in
Mughal India, the interaction among Persian, Sanskrit, and various regional languages fostered the creation
of a sophisticated cultural environment, where translation served as a bridge connecting disparate traditions
and promoting a relatively cohesive imperial identity. Throughout these and other regions influenced by
the Mongols, including China and Korea, for instance, the legacy of Mongolian-era multilingualism and
translation practices persisted, profoundly impacting the cultural and intellectual topography of Eurasia.
This workshop aims to investigate the intricacies of translation and multilingualism in Mongol and post-
Mongol Eurasia from the thirteenth to seventeenth centuries, analysing how texts, concepts, and knowledge
traversed linguistic and cultural divides. Focusing on the period’s extensive and diversified manuscript
traditions, we seek to elucidate the mechanisms enabling effective communication and comprehension
within a multilingual sphere extending from Eastern Asia to the Middle East. Viewing translation as an
embodiment of knowledge transmission, the conference will delve deeper into the subject of translation as a
notion, procedure, and outcome, debating who transferred knowledge, when, and in what settings.
Deadline for submission: expired