The Barbarian Empires of the Steppes

Travel in time to an often overlooked area of history and learn the astonishing ways that cultures thought of as barbaric have profoundly influenced our world today.

Overview

Course No. 3830

This 36-lecture course explores six millennia of nomadic civilizations that shaped Eurasia through:

• The military conquests of Attila, Genghis Khan, and Tamerlane
• Cultural exchanges along the Silk Road
• Religious transformations from Buddhism to Islam
• Technological innovations like stirrups and gunpowder

From Xiongnu confederacies to Mughal India, discover how steppe peoples redrew the maps of empires and civilizations.

Video Lectures

Part 1: Ancient Steppe Cultures

1-5. Early Nomads and Empires (29-32 min)
Indo-European origins, Scythian warriors, Han-Xiongnu wars.

6-10. Trade and Faith Networks (30-31 min)
Parthian rule, Kushan Buddhism, Silk Road commerce.

Part 2: Medieval Transformations

11-18. Huns to Khazars (29-32 min)
Attila’s raids, Turkic khaganates, Byzantine frontier conflicts.

19-25. Islamic Encounters (29-31 min)
Seljuk rise, Delhi sultanates, Anatolian conversions.

Part 3: Mongol Dominance

26-36. Conquests and Legacy (29-35 min)
Genghis Khan’s empire, Pax Mongolica, Mughal foundations.