Anthony Sattin

How the barbarians of the steppes shaped civilisation

The nomadic tribes of Central Asia eventually created vast empires that changed not only their own world but western history, says Kenneth W. Harl

Mounted archery was a defining characteristic of steppe warfare, with the Ferghana Valley supplying the best horses. [Getty Images]
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  • Empires of the Steppes: The Nomadic Tribes Who Shaped Civilisation

    Kenneth W. Harl

    Bloomsbury, pp. 576, £30

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