During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Mongol Empire issued tablets known as gerege to identify officials and envoys acting under the authority of the Great Khan. Possession of a gerege granted the bearer rights of passage, access to horses and provisions, and recognition throughout the empire. Crafted from wood, bronze, silver, or gold, the material and form of the gerege signaled the holder’s rank and associated privileges, with more precious materials conferring greater authority. In function, the gerege served as an early form of diplomatic passport, facilitating communication, governance, and diplomacy across the vast, multi-ethnic Mongol realm.