Final answer:
The Mongolian mothers weaned their children based on cultural traditions, maternal choice, and the availability of alternative foods, reflecting historical and cultural influences on Mongolian society.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Mongolian mothers the author knew indicated that their children weaned due to a combination of factors including cultural traditions, maternal choice, and the availability of alternative foods. This multifaceted approach to weaning is reflective of the broader historical and cultural contexts that have influenced Mongolian societies. For example, Mongolian cultural traditions often dictate certain practices around child-rearing and family life, maternal choice is reflective of individual autonomy within those traditions, and the availability of alternative foods can be linked to environmental factors and the nomadic lifestyle that is common among many Mongolian communities. Considering the history of the Mongolian nomadic lifestyle, the adaptation to raising livestock instead of agriculture around 1500 BCE was influenced by factors such as the need for mobility and a reliable food supply. Moreover, Mongol leaders' strategies in the Il-Khanate during the fourteenth century, such as intermarriage with Muslim subjects, show a trend towards the integration of different cultures and the adoption of agricultural practices, like the Mississippian tradition's maize agriculture and Song China's improved rice cultivation that allowed for higher population growth. Similarly, Plains groups' transition from agriculturalists to nomadic hunter/gatherers was influenced by significant ecological shifts such as the reintroduction of the horse to North America.