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Nomads and Empires

Charting the history of the Eurasian steppe, including the Scythians, the Gokturks, and the Mongols.
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Episodes

Episode 25: The Öltenic of Godherja

On this special First of April, we cover the nomadic peoples of the world of Godherja: the Öltenic. Please check this great mod for Crusader Kings 3! You can download the mod on its Steam page linked here or on ModDB here . Many appreciations to the Godherja team for providing me with feedback and corrections as well! Corrections: At around 13:17, I state that the Hyartan Mountains are the highest on the continent. The largest mountains are actually the Worldspine (where the Mayikrata is built o...

Apr 01, 202454 minSeason 1Ep. 27

Episode 24: Scythians: Tomyris and Cyrus

On this episode, we explore the titanic clash between Cyrus of the Persians and Tomyris of the Massagetae. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NomadsandEmpires Twitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPod Substack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/ Relevant Books: Barry Cunliffe, The Scythians: Nomad Warriors of the Steppe David Greene (trans.), The History of Herodotus Ilya Gershevitch, The Cambridge History of Iran, Volume 2...

Mar 23, 202440 minSeason 1Ep. 26

Episode 23: The Modern Pontic Steppe

In this special episode, we speak to Oleksiy Vasyliuk of the Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group and Tobias Muenchmeyer, European Project Lead at Green Recovery Ukraine, about the current status of Ukraine's steppes amid the ongoing war. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NomadsandEmpires Twitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPod Substack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/ Relevant Reading from Oleksiy: Restoring Ukraine’s nature post-war: Hopes and risks Askania Nova Biosphere Rese...

Dec 23, 202341 minSeason 1Ep. 25

Episode 22: Scythians: Endings and Beginnings

Another chapter ends, somewhat. Today, the Scythians will be pushed back to the Pontic steppe and will face those they had left behind. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NomadsandEmpires Twitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPod Substack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/ Relevant Books: Barry Cunliffe, The Scythians: Nomad Warriors of the Steppe Denis Sinor, The Cambridge History of Inner Asia, Volume 1 Esther Jacobson, The Art of the Scythians: The Interpenetration of Cultures at...

Oct 21, 202332 minSeason 1Ep. 24

Episode 21: Scythians: Masters of Asia

We investigate the supposed Scythian "28-year reign" of the Near East, including their conquests of Media and Palestine. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NomadsandEmpires Twitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPod Substack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/ Relevant Books: Barry Cunliffe, The Scythians: Nomad Warriors of the Steppe Denis Sinor, The Cambridge History of Inner Asia, Volume 1 Hyun Jin Kim, et al., Eurasian Empires in Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages: Contact and Ex...

Sep 22, 202341 minSeason 1Ep. 23

Episode 20: Scythians: Back to the Caucasus

The Scythians move through the north and south Caucasus, pushing to the borders of the ancient Near East. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NomadsandEmpires Twitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPod Substack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/ Relevant Books: Antonio Sagona, The Archaeology of the Caucasus: From Earliest Settlements to the Iron Age Barry Cunliffe, The Scythians: Nomad Warriors of the Steppe John Boardman, et al., The Cambridge Ancient History, Volume 3, Part 2: The ...

Jul 16, 202330 minSeason 1Ep. 22

Episode 19: Scythians: Legendary and Humble Beginnings

We continue the narrative by assessing the mythological and historical origins of the Scythians. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NomadsandEmpires Twitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPod Substack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/ Relevant Books: Barry Cunliffe, The Scythians: Nomad Warriors of the Steppe Claudia Chang, Rethinking Prehistoric Central Asia: Shepherds, Farmers, and Nomads Renate Rolle, The World of the Scythians Yulia Ustanova, The Supreme God of the Bosporan King...

May 22, 202335 minSeason 1Ep. 20

Episode 18: Scythians: Arts

We analyze the artistic and material culture of the Scythians, and put a critical eye on the term "Scytho-Siberian Culture." Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NomadsandEmpires Twitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPod Substack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/

May 06, 202322 minSeason 1Ep. 19

Episode 17: Scythians: Religion

We examine the religious beliefs of the Scythians, as well as thoughts of the afterlife. Twitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPod Substack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/

Apr 22, 202334 minSeason 1Ep. 18

Episode 16: Rhûn: The Wainriders and Balchoth

On today, April 1, we assess the nomads of Middle Earth, the peoples who reside in far eastern Rhûn. Twitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPod Substack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/

Apr 01, 202330 minSeason 1Ep. 17

Episode 15: Scythians: Warfare

We look into the weapons, armor, and tactics of Scythian warfare. Twitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPod Substack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/

Mar 11, 202329 minSeason 1Ep. 16

Episode 14: Scythians: The Scythian World

In this episode, we broadly examine the different Scythian groups from the grasses of Ukraine to the highlands of the Sayan-Altai. We meet peoples like the Pazyryk, the Massagetae, and the Saka. Twitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPod Substack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/

Feb 25, 202323 minSeason 1Ep. 15

Episode 13: Scythians: An Introduction

Today, we introduce the Scythians. This episode provides a brief overview and dives a little into the historiographical development of Scythian studies. Twitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPod Substack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/

Feb 11, 202321 minSeason 1Ep. 14

Tales from the Steppe: Boktu-Kirish, A Tuvan Tale

In this side episode, part of the Tales from the Steppe bonus episodes, we dive into the tale of Boktu-Kirish, a story that derives from the Tuvan people. Come listen as we hear about the exploits of a young woman on a quest to bring her dead brother back to life.

Oct 23, 202227 minSeason 1Ep. 13

Episode 12: Kimmerians: Sundered and Scattered

On today's episode, we track the movements of the Medes, the Scythians, the Lydians, and the Kimmerians, as we finally end this leg of our journey.

Oct 15, 202233 minSeason 1Ep. 12

Episode 10: Kimmerians: To Phrygia and Beyond

We examine the Kimmerian migration to Anatolia in the aftermath of Urartian and Assyrian invasions. We then chart the emergence of conflict between the Kimmerians and the Phrygians.

May 22, 202235 minSeason 1Ep. 10

Episode 9: Kimmerians: The Ancient Near Eastern Cold War

Today, we explore the years 720-714 BCE as the Near Eastern states of Assyria and Urartu duke it out in a grand geopolitical struggle. All the while, the Kimmerians are making their way further and further into the region.

Mar 28, 202243 minSeason 1Ep. 9

Episode 7: The Khan of Arzhan 1

We assess environmental and sociocultural changes of the 1000s BCE and track how these changes would culminate in the kurgan of Arzhan 1.

Jan 24, 202236 minSeason 1Ep. 7

Episode 6: The Indo-European Migrations

Today, we chart the emergence of the proto-Indo-Europeans and their subsequent migrations across Eurasia, including groups like the Indo-Iranians and proto-Tocharians.

Jan 08, 202239 minSeason 1Ep. 6

Episode 5: The Prehistoric Steppe

We explore the prehistoric Eurasian steppe and assess the changes emerging after the global Ice Age.

Dec 09, 202132 minSeason 1Ep. 5

Episode 4: The Historiographical Context

Today, we look at the historiography of the Eurasian steppe and address the complexities, problems, and major historical trends of academic research in this part of the world.

Nov 02, 202122 minSeason 1Ep. 4

Episode 3: The Western and Central Steppes

We examine the geography of the western and central Eurasian steppes and assess major trends and summarize historical developments.

Nov 02, 202150 minSeason 1Ep. 3

Episode 2: The Eastern Steppe

In this episode, we explore the geography of the eastern Eurasian steppe, an area encompassing modern day Mongolia and southeastern Siberia.

Nov 02, 202136 minSeason 1Ep. 2

Episode 1: The Eternal Blue Sky

Introducing the Nomads and Empires podcast. Here, we talk about the structure, major themes, and important considerations of this show.

Nov 02, 202122 minSeason 1Ep. 1
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