The Barbarian Empires of the Steppes

The word “barbarian” quickly conjures images of Attila the Hun and Genghis Khan. Yet few people realize these men belong to a succession of nomadic warriors.The word "barbarian" quickly conjures images of Attila the Hun and Genghis Khan. Yet few people realize these men belong to a succession of nomadic warriors who emerged from the Eurasian steppes to conquer civilizations. It's a part of ancient and medieval history that's often overlooked, but for an accurate view of how the world evolved, it's essential.

Covering some 6,000 miles and 6,000 years, this eye-opening course illuminates how a series of groups - from the Sacae and Sarmatians to the infamous Huns and Mongols - pushed ever westward, coming into contact with the Roman Empire, Han China, and distant cultures from Iraq to India. Along the way, you'll learn how these nomads caused a domino effect of displacement and cultural exchange; meet fascinating figures such as Tamerlane, the "Prince of Destruction"; witness struggles to control the legendary Silk Road; trace the spread of Buddhism and Islam, and more. By looking past the barbarian stereotype, you'll understand who these people were, the significance of their innovations - which include stirrups, saddles, and gunpowder - and the magnitude of their impact. Of course, these warriors did wage campaigns of terror, and you'll hear many accounts of violence as well.

Led by an award-winning professor, these 36 lectures provide new insights on how the world was shaped and introduce you to cultures and empires you've likely never encountered.

Inhoud

CH1. Steppes and Peoples
CH2. The Rise of the Indo-Europeans
CH3. Ancient Iranian Nomads
CH4. The Scythians
CH5. The Sarmatians
CH6. The Huns
CH7. Attila the Hun
CH8. The Turks
CH9. The Avars
CH10. The Bulgars
CH11. The Khazars
CH12. The Pechenegs and Cumans
CH13. The Mongols
CH14. The Rise of Genghis Khan
CH15. The Mongol Conquests
CH16. The Mongol Empire
CH17. The Golden Horde
CH18. The Ilkhanate
CH19. The Chagatai Khanate
CH20. The Yuan Dynasty
CH21. Tamerlane
CH22. The Ottoman Turks
CH23. The Safavid Persians
CH24. The Mughals
CH25. The Russians and the Steppe
CH26. The Manchus
CH27. The Kazakhs
CH28. The Kalmyks
CH29. The Crimean Tatars
CH30. The Cossacks
CH31. The Russian Conquest of Central Asia
CH32. The Great Game
CH33. The Soviet Union and the Steppe
CH34. The Modern Steppe
CH35. The Legacy of the Steppe Empires
CH36. The Enduring Influence of the Steppes