5 Myths about the Steppe Empires You Need to Stop Believing
#1. Steppe Empires were only nomadic
What comes to mind when you think of enormous empires that arose from the vast grasslands of the Eurasian Steppes, such as the Turks, Huns, Xiongnu, and Mongols?
Galloping horses, savage raids, powerful warriors driven by greed, and nomads seeking greener pastures are some images that strike us.
How accurate are these commonly held beliefs about the Steppe Empires?
Those who were at odds with the Steppe peoples — the Romans, Greeks, Persians, Indians, and Chinese — were also the ones who chronicled their history. The perspective of the Steppe Empires is missing from the discourse.
Where documented history is available, such as with the Göktürks or the Mongols, we often ignore them.
Thus, we get a biased narrative because the traditional adversaries of the Steppe people wrote their stories.
While recent historical and archaeological research has successfully debunked the myths surrounding the empires of the Steppes, these discussions remain confined to academic circles and are yet to capture the attention of the general public.
So, let us dispel five widespread myths regarding the “nomadic” empires of the…
