Karakorum, the first capital of the Mongol empire, has, since 1998, been explored by archaeologists from the University of Bonn in an interdisciplinary and international cooperation project. This first multi-year study of a newly founded city in the Mongolian steppe sheds new light on the complexity of equestrian nomadic organizations. The excavation area on the main street of the city opened a deep insight into Chinese crafts quarters and the living conditions of residents in the 13th and 14th Centuries AD. This publication includes findings from the excavations in the city center as well as contributions on the research history of Karakorum, but also on environmental geography and history of religion.