Mongolia's history is extensive, spanning over 5,000 years. The Mongols had little inclination to ally with other nomadic peoples of northern Asia, and until the end of the 12th century, they were little more than a loose confederation of rival clans. It was in the late 12th century that a 20-year-old Mongol named Temujin emerged and managed to unite most of the Mongol tribes. In 1189, he was given the honorary name Genghis Khan, meaning "universal king." No Mongolian leader before or since has united the Mongolians so effectively. The most powerful period in Mongolia's history began when Genghis Khan established the Mongol Empire in 1206, conquering countries in Asia and Europe through military force and, most importantly, skilled battle tactics.

​Born as Temüjin around 1162, Genghis Khan is renowned for founding the Mongol Empire, the largest contiguous empire in history. His leadership united the Mongolian tribes and established a sophisticated administration and trade routes across Asia. Rising from a difficult childhood marked by hardship and tribal conflict, he unified the Mongolian tribes by 1206. This unification allowed him to establish the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history.

His military strategies were innovative, emphasizing speed and mobility, leading to rapid conquests across Asia and into Europe. Genghis Khan also promoted trade along the Silk Road, facilitating cultural exchanges between diverse civilizations. He introduced the Yassa, a legal code that ensured order and justice within his empire while advocating for religious tolerance among various faiths.

Furthermore, he embraced a meritocratic system, promoting individuals based on their abilities rather than noble birth, which strengthened his administration. Genghis Khan's diplomatic efforts established relationships with various kingdoms, enhancing trade and political alliances. His legacy endures, as his conquests and reforms significantly shaped world history.

Another important period was when Manchu took over Mongolia from 1691 to 1911. Following the fall of the Manchu dynasty, a group of Mongol princes proclaimed theJebsundemba(living Buddha of Urga) to be their ruler. Mongolians have always embraced Tibetan Buddhism, and the links between Mongolia and Tibet are both old and deep. In 1921, there were 110,000 lamas (or monks) in Mongolia, residing in 700 monasteries. However, in the 1930s, thousands of monks were arrested, and by 1939, it was believed that 3% of Mongolia's population had been executed; out of 27,000, 17,000 were monks.

In 1990, freedom of religion returned, leading to a revival of Buddhism and other faiths. Mongolia gained its independence in 1911, and in 1921, the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party established a government. When the last living Buddha died in 1924, the Mongolian People's Republic was founded. It took 22 years for China to recognize this new government. All subsequent Mongolian texts were written in traditional script until Stalin forcibly replaced it with the Russian Cyrillic alphabet in the 1940s. The original texts were in a script known as the "Secret History" script. Since 1944, the Cyrillic alphabet has been used for writing Mongolian.

A new constitution came into force in 1960, and Mongolia was admitted to the United Nations in 1961. Traditionally, Mongolia supported the Soviet Union. In January 1992, the president of Mongolia, OchirbatPunsalmaa, instituted a new constitution. In 1993, Boris Yeltsin, Russia's president, and Ochirbat signed a new treaty, and Ochirbat was re-elected that same year.

In the 1980s, Mongolia was under the control of Batmonkh Jamba, who was encouraged by the Soviet reforms under Mikhail Gorbachev. By the late 1980s, relations with China began to thaw, leading to the establishment of full diplomatic relations in 1989. In March 1990, large pro-democracy protests erupted in front of the parliament building in Ulaanbaatar, accompanied by hunger strikes. A series of rapid changes occurred that month: Batmonkh lost power, new political parties emerged, and protests continued. In May, the government agreed to hold multiparty elections in June 1990, which the communists won.

In the first half of 1996, Mongolia was beset by wildfires that raged for more than three months, resulting in the loss of 41,000 square miles (106,000 square kilometres) of forest and rangeland. In 1997, Ochirbat lost the election due to economic issues. By 2000, the elections resulted in a near-total victory for the MPRP, which won 95% of the seats.

In 2024, as Mongolia transitions to a new political system, the parliament is set to change its composition to 126 members. This adjustment reflects ongoing efforts to enhance representation and governance in the country, aiming to improve political stability and better address the needs of the population.