몽골제국시기 술 문화의 남북교류

Abstract

This study examines the exchange and influence of alcohol, often hailed as the greatest gift bestowed upon humanity, as it traversed the Eurasian continent from east to west and vice versa. Rather than being a mere beverage for enjoyment, alcohol should be regarded as a cultural heritage born from the fusion of local products and cultures. This paper gathers historical records on wine to explore how the people of the Mongol Empire enjoyed wine, and investigates the spread and diffusion of fermented beverages like Maotai and the distilled spirits derived from them, shedding light on the North-South cultural exchange of alcohol during the early 13th century in the steppe and the central plains.
 In particular, the invention of distillation apparatus and the activities of Islamic merchants contributed to the vast dissemination of distilled spirits throughout the vast regions of Eurasia, giving rise to various types of alcohol such as arrack and soju in the east, and whisky, brandy, vodka, and tequila in the west. This, too, can be seen as a result of extensive cultural exchange between the East and the West. The active exchange of alcohol during the era of the Mongol Empire was made possible by the empire's expansion of territories in all directions, establishing an empire that not only exerted political and military control over neighboring countries but also provided opportunities for subordinate ruling classes to participate in advanced civilization. Additionally, the empire secured hubs for exchanging goods between border regions and central cities, leading to the flourishing of economic exchanges, both public and private, between regions.
 This paper examines how the spread of alcohol in East Asia occurred in both the northern and southern directions, centered around the Mongol Empire, during different periods before and after the empire's existence. Contrary to our general assumption that alcohol spread unilaterally from China to Southeast Asian countries, it was confirmed that various types of fermented beverages produced in the region were introduced to China as trade developed. Likewise, distilled spirits were introduced to China through maritime and overland trade routes, and with the construction of a universal empire, the spread of these alcoholic beverages to other regions became more active, contributing to their popularization. This, too, can be seen as a cultural exchange phenomenon brought about by Pax Mongolica.