The most interesting period in the religious attitudes of the Mongols was the period when Chinggis Khaan founded the Great Mongol Empire. Chinggis Khaan and his successors idolised shamanism and holy spirits. The shamans, who worshipped the Eternal Blue Sky, were never banned by other religious denominations. Kharakhorum, the capital of the Great Mongol Empire, was one of the greatest cultural, religious and political centres of its time in the world. Buddhists, Christians, Nestorians, Muslims and Confucians co-existed by setting up their own temples and monasteries. History tells us that the monasteries and temples had their own governing centres and head authorities.
In Kharakhorum, along with shamanism, there was a Buddhist lamasery, two mosques, one Christian church and 12 temples of other religions. Beginning with the Great Bogd Chinggis, the Mongolian khaans and nobles never discriminated against the religious denominations of conquered nations and let them co-exist on an equal footing. Khubilai Khaan celebrated the holy festivals of various religions. The history of the Yuan dynasty says that people observed together festivals such as the birthday of Christ and his rebirth. The same was observed by Muslims who celebrated Jewish and Buddhist religious events.
Khubilai said, "These four holy saints are being deeply revered by the people in any corner of the world". According to historians the Mongols were tolerant of the religious faiths of any nationality that helped them to rule the country they dominated. On the other hand, it would be wrong to say the Mongol khaans and nobles, who learned much by traversing half of the world, were the people to discriminate against other beliefs. It is probable that the wise and sound policy of the Mongol khaans and high-ranking nobles of the time was the secret to the successful conquering of half the world.
Humankind does not know of a peaceful co-existence of different religions under one roof as in the period of the Great Mongol Empire of the 13th century. The Polish scientist V.Kotwich concludes that "in the 13th century the Mongols initiated world peace", bringing the religious policy of the Mongol khaans to light is a historical fact". Another historical example is that "Marco Polo benefited from the peace brought by the Mongols to travel safely from Venice through Asia and back. Polo's adventure became an inspiration for the later explorations of European explorers" (World History, Volume I. 4th edition. 1996, page 170).
