Raiders, Rulers, and Traders: The Horse and The Rise of Empires
By David Chaffetz
W.W. Norton & Company
ISBN: 978-1-324-05146-6
A sweeping history from prehistoric times to the 20th century, this book examines how the horse helped shaped civilization along the Eurasian Steppe. Several chapters focus on medieval empires, including the Turks, Mongols and Timurids.
Excerpt:
Much of the narrative of Raiders, Rulers, and Traders takes place on the Eurasian steppe, whose westernmost grassy plains give way to dense forest and rugged mountains in the Carpathians, Bohemia, and the Alps. Western Europe had a very different experience with horses. The horse-breeding peoples of the steppe never succeeded in conquering this part of the world, west of the old Iron Curtain frontier between the Soviet bloc and NATO, though they tried several times. Attila and the Huns, Bayan Khan of the Avars, the Bulghar Asparukh Khan, and Arpad Gyula of the Magyars all took advantage of the grass-rich middle Danube as a base for conquest, but their campaigns farther west ended in failure. Nevertheless, in eastern Europe, they left their traces. The steppe conquerors—Bulgarians, Serbs, Croats, and Magyars (Hungarians) durably imprinted their names across eastern Europe. The Polish nobility claimed descent from ancient steppe invaders, whose tombs, full of treasure and sacrificial horses, are found all over that country.
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Who is this book for?
This book provides an insightful introduction to the diverse peoples who roamed the Eurasian Steppe and their interactions with neighbouring states. It will be particularly valuable for those studying the role of horses in ancient and medieval societies, offering a comprehensive exploration of their significance in shaping these cultures and their connections.
The Author
David Chaffetz is an independent scholar who has written widely about Asian history. You can learn more about David through his website, or follow him on X/Twitter or Instagram.
From a reader: In the epilogue, you wrote, “if a Westerner tells you they played buzkashi in Afghanistan, in most cases that means they watched the game played.” I know of at least one westerner who did indeed play buzkashi in Afghanistan, my oldest son, Army Staff Sergeant…
Raiders, Rulers, and Traders: The Horse and The Rise of Empires
By David Chaffetz
W.W. Norton & Company
ISBN: 978-1-324-05146-6
A sweeping history from prehistoric times to the 20th century, this book examines how the horse helped shaped civilization along the Eurasian Steppe. Several chapters focus on medieval empires, including the Turks, Mongols and Timurids.
Excerpt:
Much of the narrative of Raiders, Rulers, and Traders takes place on the Eurasian steppe, whose westernmost grassy plains give way to dense forest and rugged mountains in the Carpathians, Bohemia, and the Alps. Western Europe had a very different experience with horses. The horse-breeding peoples of the steppe never succeeded in conquering this part of the world, west of the old Iron Curtain frontier between the Soviet bloc and NATO, though they tried several times. Attila and the Huns, Bayan Khan of the Avars, the Bulghar Asparukh Khan, and Arpad Gyula of the Magyars all took advantage of the grass-rich middle Danube as a base for conquest, but their campaigns farther west ended in failure. Nevertheless, in eastern Europe, they left their traces. The steppe conquerors—Bulgarians, Serbs, Croats, and Magyars (Hungarians) durably imprinted their names across eastern Europe. The Polish nobility claimed descent from ancient steppe invaders, whose tombs, full of treasure and sacrificial horses, are found all over that country.
Who is this book for?
This book provides an insightful introduction to the diverse peoples who roamed the Eurasian Steppe and their interactions with neighbouring states. It will be particularly valuable for those studying the role of horses in ancient and medieval societies, offering a comprehensive exploration of their significance in shaping these cultures and their connections.
The Author
David Chaffetz is an independent scholar who has written widely about Asian history. You can learn more about David through his website, or follow him on X/Twitter or Instagram.
You can learn more about this book from the publisher’s website
You can buy this book on Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
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