Christopher Pratt Atwood is an American scholar of Mongolian and Chinese history. Currently the Chair of the University of Pennsylvania's East Asian Languages and Civilizations Department, he has authored six books and published more than 100 articles on a wide variety of topics. Historian Timothy May described him as a leading scholar of Mongolian studies in Western Hemisphere.

Atwood is a recipient of the Order of the Polar Star, awarded by the President of Mongolia and Onon Prize, awarded by the University of Cambridge Mongolia and Inner Asia Studies Unit, and holds honorary doctorates from the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and the National University of Mongolia.

Education

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Christopher Atwood received a Bachelor's degree at Harvard University, where he studied Tibetan, Mongolian and Chinese. He holds a Master's from Indiana University Bloomington, where he also obtained Ph.D. in Mongolian Studies, History and East Asian Languages and Cultures.

Career

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Early in his career, Atwood worked for U.S. State Department and was a visiting scholar at Inner Mongolia University. He later taught at Indiana University from 1996 to 2016, serving as department chair and interim director of the Center for Languages of the Central Asian Region. In 2016, he joined the University of Pennsylvania, where he is Chair of the East Asian Languages and Civilizations Department.[1] He has been actively interviewed by and consulted with the US government, American, Asian and European universities, international academic and professional associations and media on modern affairs and history and cultural aspects of Mongolia and China.[2] His colleague, the historian Timothy May, described him as a leading scholar of Mongolian studies in Western Hemisphere.[3]

Atwood was awarded Honorary doctorate of National University of Mongolia in 2019 and Honorary Doctorate, conferred by the Institute of History, Academy of Sciences of Mongolia, in 2011 for his significant contributions to Mongolian studies.[4][5] The President of Mongolia awarded him the Order of the Polar Star on July 11, 2011. His work and contributions were recognized by several institutions, including Onon Prize by the University of Cambridge, Teaching Excellence Recognition Award (1998–99 and 2003–04); Indiana University Trustees Teaching Award (2000–01 and 2001–02); John G. Hangin Memorial Prize for Mongolian Studies; Denis Sinor Prize for best graduate paper in the Central Eurasian Studies Department.[6][4]

He has authored six books and published more than 100 articles and chapters in areas of history, ethnography, linguistics and politics.[7] His book Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol Empire was widely praised by scholars and readers interested in Asian history.[8]

Books

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  • The Secret History of the Mongols
  • The Rise of the Mongols: Five Chinese Sources
  • New Approaches to Ilkhanid History
  • Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol Empire
  • Young Mongols and Vigilantes in Inner Mongolia's Interregnum Decades, 1911-1931

References

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  1. ^ "Christopher P. Atwood - Penn Arts and Science Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations". Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  2. ^ "China Enforces Ban on Mongolian Language in Schools, Books". Voice of America. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Монголч эрдэмтэн, судлаачдаа гадуурхдаг Монгол сэтгэлгээ". 17 August 2023. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  4. ^ a b "Third Onon Prize Awarded to Professor Christopher Atwood". 6 July 2021. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  5. ^ "Mongolist Christopher Atwood becomes Honorary doctorate of NUM". Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  6. ^ "Christopher P. Atwood - CV" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  7. ^ "Christopher P. Atwood - CV" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  8. ^ "Book Review of Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol Empire". Inner Asia. 7 (2): 285–287. 2005. doi:10.1163/146481705793646928. JSTOR 23615705.