Nomads and Empires

Introducing the Nomads and Empires podcast. Here, we talk about the structure, major themes, and important considerations of this show.   

In this episode, we explore the geography of the eastern Eurasian steppe, an area encompassing modern day Mongolia and southeastern Siberia.  

We examine the geography of the western and central Eurasian steppes and assess major trends and summarize historical developments. 

Today, we look at the historiography of the Eurasian steppe and address the complexities, problems, and major historical trends of academic research in this part of the world.  

We explore the prehistoric Eurasian steppe and assess the changes emerging after the global Ice Age. 

Today, we chart the emergence of the proto-Indo-Europeans and their subsequent migrations across Eurasia, including groups like the Indo-Iranians and proto-Tocharians. 

We assess environmental and sociocultural changes of the 1000s BCE and track how these changes would culminate in the kurgan of Arzhan 1. 

 We finally start the narrative and introduce our first named historical group: the Kimmerians.  

Today, we explore the years 720-714 BCE as the Near Eastern states of Assyria and Urartu duke it out in a grand geopolitical struggle. All the while, the Kimmerians are making their way further and further into the region.

We examine the Kimmerian migration to Anatolia in the aftermath of Urartian and Assyrian invasions. We then chart the emergence of conflict between the Kimmerians and the Phrygians. 

We chart the Kimmerians as they launched attacks against the Kingdom of Lydia, placing us closer to the eventual end of the Kimmerians. 

On today's episode, we track the movements of the Medes, the Scythians, the Lydians, and the Kimmerians, as we finally end this leg of our journey. 

In this side episode, part of the Tales from the Steppe bonus episodes, we dive into the tale of Boktu-Kirish, a story that derives from the Tuvan people. Come listen as we hear about the exploits of a young woman on a quest to bring her dead brother back to life. 

Today, we introduce the Scythians. This episode provides a brief overview and dives a little into the historiographical development of Scythian studies.Twitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/

In this episode, we broadly examine the different Scythian groups from the grasses of Ukraine to the highlands of the Sayan-Altai. We meet peoples like the Pazyryk, the Massagetae, and the Saka. Twitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/ 

We look into the weapons, armor, and tactics of Scythian warfare.  Twitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/  

On today, April 1, we assess the nomads of Middle Earth, the peoples who reside in far eastern Rhûn.Twitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/   

We examine the religious beliefs of the Scythians, as well as thoughts of the afterlife.Twitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/    

We analyze the artistic and material culture of the Scythians, and put a critical eye on the term "Scytho-Siberian Culture."Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NomadsandEmpiresTwitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/     

We continue the narrative by assessing the mythological and historical origins of the Scythians. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NomadsandEmpiresTwitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/      Relevant Books:Barry Cunliffe, The Scythians: Nomad Warriors of the SteppeClaudia Chang, Rethinking Prehistoric Central Asia: Shepherds, Farmers, and NomadsRenate Rolle, The World of the ScythiansYulia Ustanova, The Supreme God of the Bosporan Kingdom: Celestial Aphrodite and the Most High God 

The Scythians move through the north and south Caucasus, pushing to the borders of the ancient Near East. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NomadsandEmpiresTwitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/  Relevant Books:Antonio Sagona, The Archaeology of the Caucasus: From Earliest Settlements to the Iron Age Barry Cunliffe, The Scythians: Nomad Warriors of the SteppeJohn Boardman, et al., The Cambridge Ancient History,  Volume 3, Part 2: The Assyrian and Babylonian Empires and Other States of the Near East, from the Eighth to the Sixth Centuries BC, 2nd edition

We investigate the supposed Scythian "28-year reign" of the Near East, including their conquests of Media and Palestine.Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NomadsandEmpiresTwitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/  Relevant Books:Barry Cunliffe, The Scythians: Nomad Warriors of the SteppeDenis Sinor, The Cambridge History of Inner Asia, Volume 1Hyun Jin Kim, et al., Eurasian Empires in Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages:Contact and Exchange between the Graeco-Roman World, Inner Asia and ChinaJohn Boardman, et al., The Cambridge Ancient History,  Volume 3, Part 2: The Assyrian and Babylonian Empires and Other States of the Near East, from the Eighth to the Sixth Centuries BC, 2nd edition

Another chapter ends, somewhat. Today, the Scythians will be pushed back to the Pontic steppe and will face those they had left behind.  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NomadsandEmpiresTwitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/  Relevant Books:Barry Cunliffe, The Scythians: Nomad Warriors of the SteppeDenis Sinor, The Cambridge History of Inner Asia, Volume 1Esther Jacobson, The Art of the Scythians: The Interpenetration of Cultures at the Edge of the Hellenic WorldHyun Jin Kim, et al., Eurasian Empires in Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages:Contact and Exchange between the Graeco-Roman World, Inner Asia and ChinaIver B. Neumann and Einar Wigen, The Steppe Tradition in International Relations: Russians, Turks, and European State Building 4000 BCE-2018 BCE

In this special episode, we speak to Oleksiy Vasyliuk of the Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group and Tobias Muenchmeyer, European Project Lead at Green Recovery Ukraine, about the current status of Ukraine's steppes amid the ongoing war. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NomadsandEmpiresTwitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/  Relevant Reading from Oleksiy:Restoring Ukraine's nature post-war: Hopes and risksAskania Nova Biosphere Reserve captured by invadersNew laws for the reclaim of protected areas by farmers

On this episode, we explore the titanic clash between Cyrus of the Persians and Tomyris of the Massagetae. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NomadsandEmpiresTwitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/  Relevant Books:Barry Cunliffe, The Scythians: Nomad Warriors of the SteppeDavid Greene (trans.), The History of HerodotusIlya Gershevitch, The Cambridge History of Iran, Volume 2

On this special First of April, we cover the nomadic peoples of the world of Godherja: the Öltenic. Please check this great mod for Crusader Kings 3! You can download the mod on its Steam page linked here or on ModDB here. Many appreciations to the Godherja team for providing me with feedback and corrections as well! Corrections:At around 13:17, I state that the Hyartan Mountains are the highest on the continent. The largest mountains are actually the Worldspine (where the Mayikrata is built on).During the discussion of the Bayyuralar in around 47:00, I should have clarified that the event did not just target the Astilik Empire. Other, unrelated states were also targeted by Baytor and his vassals. At about 50:50, I use the term "Imperial Legate" when the correct term to denote an Aversarian general is Legon or Legan. This point was made unclear in the episode, but it should be noted that during the period of Imperial domination by Aversaria, the Öltenic peoples were considered nominal "citizens" of the empire. Social MediaPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/NomadsandEmpiresTwitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/