The Eurasian Steppe: People, Movement, Ideas

Warwick Ball

Published by Edinburgh University Press 2021

The Eurasian Steppe

People, Movement, Ideas

Warwick Ball

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474488075

Overview
Contents

About this book

Tells the story of the Eurasian steppe, from legends of Amazons and Gog and Magog to its effects on Europe in the 21st century

Shows how the history, languages, ideas, art forms, peoples, nations and identities of the steppe have shaped almost every aspect of the life of Europe
Explores the history of steppe peoples, from the Scythians to the Mongols, with discussion of both earlier and later movements
Looks at the art of the steppe, from animal style to avant-garde, and explores how Scythian art influenced Chinese, Persian, Anatolian, Greek and Russian art
Draws on historical, archaeological and art-historical sources to build a picture of life on the steppe from prehistory to the present
Read an extract from chapter 6, Scythian Gold, on the Edinburgh University Press blog

A geographical area, not a political entity, the steppe connects the western and eastern parts of the Eurasian land mass. As such, it is always open, subject to constant movement between Asia and Europe. Steppe peoples such as Huns, Avars and Turks changed the course of European history, while others such as Finns, Magyars and Bulgars form European nations. The steppe saw the world’s only Jewish Empire, while the Mongols conquered an empire from the Pacific to the Mediterranean. Indeed, Europe’s largest nation, Russia, was formed from the fusion of Eurasian nomadic and European sedentary elements.

The peculiar nature of the steppe has resulted in peoples originating in parts of Asia now forming a permanent part of the European community, and that movement has affected European history and identity since earliest times. Warwick Ball tells the story of that movement from prehistory to the present. From nomadic peoples to conquering empires, from tales of Amazon women to art nouveau, and from golden grave goods to the formation of countries that still exist today, you'll discover how the steppe has continually shaped Europe’s destiny. Ultimately, Ball shows that the steppe and the movement of peoples across it are so crucial that they question the very idea of ‘Europe’ as a separate cultural and historical construct.

"

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
About the Author Publicly Available Download PDF	ii
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Figures Publicly Available Download PDF	viii
Maps Publicly Available Download PDF	xvii
Note on Transliteration Publicly Available Download PDF	xviii
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
CHAPTER 1 THE NATURE OF THE STEPPE Some Geographical Observations Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	6
CHAPTER 2 THE BEGINNINGS OF EURASIA Permanence, Movement and Prehistory Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	40
CHAPTER 3 INDO-EUROPE Prehistory and Language Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	62
CHAPTER 4 HISTORY AND MYTH Cimmerians, Scythians and Sarmatians; Gog, Magog and Excalibur Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	81
CHAPTER 5 AMAZONS Women of the Steppe and the Idea of the Female Warrior Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	117
CHAPTER 6 THE ART OF THE STEPPE From Animal Style to Art Nouveau Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	136
CHAPTER 7 TWILIGHT OF THE GODS The Huns, Attila and the End of Antiquity Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	169
CHAPTER 8 DESCENDANTS OF THE SHE-WOLF The Emergence of Turkish-speaking Peoples Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	198
CHAPTER 9 EUROPEAN NATIONS FROM THE STEPPE Nomads and Early Medieval Europe Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	222
CHAPTER 10 THE ATLANTIS OF THE STEPPE The Khazar Empire and its Legacy Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	252
CHAPTER 11 THE ‘MEN FROM HELL’ Setting the West Ablaze: The Mongols in Europe Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	267
CHAPTER 12 GOLDEN HORDES The Tatar Khanates of Russia Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	291
CHAPTER 13 A MODERN STEPPE EMPIRE Russian Identity and the Steppe Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	314
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	346
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	368
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	394

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
Audience: College/higher education;
Pages
- Main content: 424
Illustrations
- Other: 25 B/W illustrations; 200 colour illustrations; 200 colour illustrations, 25 b&w illustrations and 20 maps
Keywords: Islamic Studies

eBook

Published: April 21, 2022
ISBN: 9781474488075