The barbarian nomads of the Eurasian steppes have been largely overlooked in world history, but their achievements have been immense. This book tells the story of their rise to power and their impact on the world, from the Huns and Genghis Khan to the Magyars and the Turks. It is a sweeping account of forty-five centuries of nomadic tribes that shaped the modern world.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 576 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The barbarian nomads of the Eurasian steppes played a decisive role in world history, but their achievements have gone largely unnoticed. These tribes produced some of the world's greatest conquerors: Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan and Tamerlane, among others. And their deeds still resonate today. Indeed, these nomads built long-lasting empires, facilitated the first global trade of the Silk Road and disseminated religions, technology, knowledge and goods of every description that enriched and changed the lives of so many across Europe, China and the Middle East. From a single region emerged a great many peoples – the Huns, the Mongols, the Magyars, the Turks, the Xiongnu, the Scythians, the Goths – all of whom went on to profoundly and irrevocably shape the modern world. In this enthralling new history, Professor Kenneth W. Harl draws on a lifetime of scholarship to vividly recreate the lives of these peoples from their beginnings to the early modern age. Their brutal struggle to survive on the steppes bred a resilient, pragmatic people ever-ready to learn from their neighbours. In war, they were fearless and relentless, and in peace, they were tolerant and hospitable. They were also great traders, and their networks extended far and wide. The Silk Road was a vital artery for their commerce, and they played a crucial role in its development. The barbarian nomads of the Eurasian steppes were a diverse and fascinating group of people who left an indelible mark on world history. Their achievements and influence are still felt today, and their story deserves to be told.

An Epic History of How the So-Called "Barbarians of the Steppes" Shaped the Modern World

This is a history of epic scope that brings together the empires of the steppe land with the caravan cities of the Silk Road and imperial China. Martyn Rady, author of The Middle Kingdoms, calls it "a rollercoaster of historical narration." Gillian Tett, of the Financial Times, flips the script to present the booted, felt-capped, leather-trousered, and kaftan-wearing nomads as the bearers of civilization. Harl's exhaustively researched book will ensure they rejoin the narrative of world history. Marc David Baer, of the Guardian, says, "The barbarian nomads of the Eurasian steppes played a decisive role in world history, but their achievements have gone largely unnoticed. These tribes produced some of the world's greatest conquerors: Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan, and Tamerlane, among others. And their deeds still resonate today."

Indeed, these nomads built long-lasting empires, facilitated the first global trade of the Silk Road, and disseminated religions, technology, knowledge, and goods of every description that enriched and changed the lives of so many across Europe, China, and the Middle East. From a single region emerged a great many peoples – the Huns, the Mongols, the Magyars, the Turks, the Xiongnu, the Scythians, the Goths – all of whom went on to profoundly and irrevocably shape the modern world. In this enthralling new history, Professor Kenneth W. Harl draws on a lifetime of scholarship to vividly recreate the lives of these peoples from their beginnings to the early modern age. Their brutal struggle to survive on the steppes bred a resilient, pragmatic people ever-ready to learn from their neighbours. In war, they were fearless and relentless, and in peace, they were tolerant and hospitable. They were also great traders, and their networks extended far and wide. The Silk Road was a vital artery for their commerce, and they played a crucial role in its development. The barbarian nomads of the Eurasian steppes were a diverse and fascinating group of people who left an indelible mark on world history. Their achievements and influence are still felt today, and their story deserves to be told.

Weight: 404g
Dimension: 197 x 129 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526630414