Known for their exquisite gold art and fierce cavalry, these Iranic-speaking nomads dominated the western steppe for centuries.
The three centuries prior to the Mongol conquests (900-1200 CE) were periods of extreme climatic fluctuation. Using paleoclimatic data, Christian demonstrates a stunning correlation: periods of drought on the Mongolian plateau led directly to periods of intense raiding on the borders of China and Persia. Known for their exquisite gold art and fierce
Despite its depth, the book is designed for the "literate layman" and serves as a stellar introductory survey for both students and curious readers. Project MUSE Common Criticisms Visual Aids: Multiple reviewers on Despite its depth, the book is designed for
In A History of Russia, Central Asia and Mongolia (Vol. 1) , David Christian provides a sweeping "macro-history" of —the massive landlocked region stretching from the Carpathians to the Pacific. The book argues that the history of this
The book argues that the history of this vast region—from the Carpathian Mountains to the Pacific, and from the Siberian taiga to the Central Asian steppes—is defined by a singular, enduring struggle: the interaction between the "Ecological Frontier" of the forested north and the "Steppe Corridor" of the grasslands to the south. Volume 1 covers the trajectory from the Paleolithic era up to the height of the Mongol Empire in the 13th and 14th centuries.