What comes to mind when you think of enormous empires that arose from the vast grasslands of the Eurasian Steppes, such as the Turks, Huns, Xiongnu, and Mongols?
Galloping horses, savage raids, powerful warriors driven by greed, and nomads seeking greener pastures are some images that strike us.
How accurate are these commonly held beliefs about the Steppe Empires?
Those who were at odds with the Steppe peoples — the Romans, Greeks, Persians, Indians, and Chinese — were also the ones who chronicled their history. The perspective of the Steppe Empires is missing from the discourse.