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Empires of the Steppes: A History of the Nomadic Tribes Who Shaped Civilization
A narrative history of how Attila, Genghis Khan and the so-called barbarians of the steppes shaped world civilization.
The barbarian nomads of the Eurasian steppes have played a decisive role in world history, but their achievements have gone largely unnoticed. These nomadic tribes have produced some of the world’s greatest Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan and Tamerlane, among others. Their deeds still resonate today. Indeed, these nomads built long-lasting empires, facilitated the first global trade of the Silk Road and disseminated religions, technology, knowledge and goods of every description that enriched and changed the lives of so many across Europe, China and the Middle East. From a single region emerged a great many peoples—the Huns, the Mongols, the Magyars, the Turks, the Xiongnu, the Scythians, the Goths—all of whom went on to profoundly and irrevocably shape the modern world.
In this new, comprehensive history, Professor Kenneth W. Harl vividly re-creates the lives and world of these often-forgotten peoples from their beginnings to the early modern age. Their brutal struggle to survive on the steppes bred a resilient, pragmatic people ever ready to learn from their more advanced neighbors. In warfare, they dominated the battlefield for over fifteen hundred years. Under charismatic rulers, they could topple empires and win their own.
The barbarian nomads of the Eurasian steppes have played a decisive role in world history, but their achievements have gone largely unnoticed. These nomadic tribes have produced some of the world’s greatest Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan and Tamerlane, among others. Their deeds still resonate today. Indeed, these nomads built long-lasting empires, facilitated the first global trade of the Silk Road and disseminated religions, technology, knowledge and goods of every description that enriched and changed the lives of so many across Europe, China and the Middle East. From a single region emerged a great many peoples—the Huns, the Mongols, the Magyars, the Turks, the Xiongnu, the Scythians, the Goths—all of whom went on to profoundly and irrevocably shape the modern world.
In this new, comprehensive history, Professor Kenneth W. Harl vividly re-creates the lives and world of these often-forgotten peoples from their beginnings to the early modern age. Their brutal struggle to survive on the steppes bred a resilient, pragmatic people ever ready to learn from their more advanced neighbors. In warfare, they dominated the battlefield for over fifteen hundred years. Under charismatic rulers, they could topple empires and win their own.
576 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2023
About the author
Kenneth W. Harl
31 books108 followersDr. Kenneth W. Harl is Professor of Classical and Byzantine History at Tulane University in New Orleans, where he teaches courses in Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Crusader history. He earned his B.A. from Trinity College and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Yale University.
Recognized as an outstanding lecturer, Professor Harl has received numerous teaching awards at Tulane, including the coveted Sheldon H. Hackney Award two times. He has earned Tulane's annual Student Body Award for Excellence in Teaching nine times and is the recipient of Baylor University's nationwide Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teachers.
In 2007, he was the Lewis P. Jones Visiting Professor in History at Wofford College. An expert on classical Anatolia, he has taken students with him into the field on excursions and to assist in excavations of Hellenistic and Roman sites in Turkey.
Professor Harl has also published a wide variety of articles and books, including his current work on coins unearthed in an excavation of Gordion, Turkey, and a new book on Rome and her Iranian foes. A fellow and trustee of the American Numismatic Society, Professor Harl is well known for his studies of ancient coinage. He is the author of Civic Coins and Civic Politics in the Roman East, A.D. 180–275 and Coinage in the Roman Economy, 300 B.C. to A.D. 700.
Recognized as an outstanding lecturer, Professor Harl has received numerous teaching awards at Tulane, including the coveted Sheldon H. Hackney Award two times. He has earned Tulane's annual Student Body Award for Excellence in Teaching nine times and is the recipient of Baylor University's nationwide Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teachers.
In 2007, he was the Lewis P. Jones Visiting Professor in History at Wofford College. An expert on classical Anatolia, he has taken students with him into the field on excursions and to assist in excavations of Hellenistic and Roman sites in Turkey.
Professor Harl has also published a wide variety of articles and books, including his current work on coins unearthed in an excavation of Gordion, Turkey, and a new book on Rome and her Iranian foes. A fellow and trustee of the American Numismatic Society, Professor Harl is well known for his studies of ancient coinage. He is the author of Civic Coins and Civic Politics in the Roman East, A.D. 180–275 and Coinage in the Roman Economy, 300 B.C. to A.D. 700.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
August 27, 2023
This is a comprehensive and detailed historical account of the Eurasian Steppes and the diverse people and rulers over the ages. Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan, Tamerlane, and other well known figures we’ve come across in our study of history. As well, there were loads and loads of other characters that it was hard to keep track and was frankly overwhelming. But I can see how the immense research and details would be an amazing delight for historians and diehard history buffs. Overall I’m glad I read the book even though my eyes glazed over frequently and page turning became an automatic syndrome. I got as much as I could without getting bogged down and appreciated the meticulous insight into the people and warriors of the Steppes and their prowess and resilience over hundreds of years. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 4, 2023
Kenneth Harl's Empires of the Steppes is an excellent book with one huge caveat. It is a dense study of the people of the Eurasian steppes from their beginnings to more well known people like Attila the Hun and Genghis Khan.
The caveat is that this is not light reading for someone who wants a deep narrative discussion of one leader or significant hand holding on various aspects of the nomadic life. For me, I don't have enough background in this time and place in history to be able to glean major insight from Harl's story. This is in no way an indictment of Harl and the book. It is very well written and it is abundantly clear that Harl knows what he is talking about. For someone who has some background, this book is probably a must read and may lead many people to want to dig further into many of the characters Harl touches upon. It is a great book for certain audiences and it deserves five stars on scholarship alone.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing.)
The caveat is that this is not light reading for someone who wants a deep narrative discussion of one leader or significant hand holding on various aspects of the nomadic life. For me, I don't have enough background in this time and place in history to be able to glean major insight from Harl's story. This is in no way an indictment of Harl and the book. It is very well written and it is abundantly clear that Harl knows what he is talking about. For someone who has some background, this book is probably a must read and may lead many people to want to dig further into many of the characters Harl touches upon. It is a great book for certain audiences and it deserves five stars on scholarship alone.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing.)
May 16, 2024
As a historian I have to give this 4 stars because it seems very thorough and it was a good read. As a general reader of nonfiction, I'd probably give it 3 because it is NOT for the faint of heart! I credit my World Civilizations class from my freshman year of college (the instructor was so good) for what I was able to understand from this book. Without any background in the subject of Nomadic tribes of the Steppes (aka the Mongols) it is very difficult to keep up with.
I did enjoy the information on the legacy of the Mongol Empires. It is a good reminder that they were not just raiding hordes who destroyed everything in their wake - although they were definitely that.
A good overview of the subject and detailed enough to keep my interest as a historian, 4 stars.
I did enjoy the information on the legacy of the Mongol Empires. It is a good reminder that they were not just raiding hordes who destroyed everything in their wake - although they were definitely that.
A good overview of the subject and detailed enough to keep my interest as a historian, 4 stars.
November 2, 2023
A good overview of the Steppe people and their influence on the world. Not as good as the authors lectures but still top notch. Could have done without the prestor John stuff and it does become a bit of name soup after awhile but that is to be expected on a book with this long of a time frame..
Recommended.
Recommended.
July 24, 2024
An excellent synthesis history of a wide variety of primary and secondary sources. Densely packed with information. Very good bibliography, glossary and index.
April 9, 2023
The author's, Kenneth Harl's, scholarship is excellent, but his book is nearly impenetrable. As a result, this book is not a good choice for general readers. However, historians who specialize in Asian history will enjoy this text, as will numismatical specialists (Mr. Harl's first love) and those who study language. One option for the general reader is to purchase "Empires of the Steppes" and skip immediately to the chapters on the great Khans. One interesting fact that will leap out at any reader of any portion of this text is that humans were almost constantly at war, whether over succession or against neighboring tribes.
April 21, 2024
I've been fascinated by the steppe nomads for a while now, and have read a couple of books either directly focussing on these peoples or as a part of a broader history. This one was easily my favourite and provided a rigorous overview of the Eurasian 'grass sea' and the people who inhabited it. While certainly not an in-depth look at any one particular group, Kenneth Harl crafts a coherent yet incomplete story of Eurasia’s steppe warriors. Discussions on lifestyle, beliefs, and cultural practices really aided this narrative and gave context to the interactions between the steppe and civilisation. ‘Empires of the Steppes’ also provides an excellent account of the origin of the Indo-Aryan/Europeans way of life. I found my own understanding of the cultural/linguist groupings among steppe people developed in the course of reading. That being said, some readers may have difficulty wading through the jargon at times and the ending is rather sudden and without sufficient summation.
Steppe peoples have through various periods, been demonised as murderous barbarians or glorified as tolerant, enlightened saints. While there is certainly some truth to both of these accounts, ‘Empires of the Steppes’ shy’s away from this black and white portrait. This is really helped by the book defining the belief system of the Altic and Indo-Aryan peoples. Each believed in a sky lord, Tengri and Dyeus (the origin of Deus in English) respectively, as well as a host of minor gods. Religions like Buddhism easily integrated notions of Dharma into the broader nomad worldview. Further religions each provided a way to grasp the nature of Tengri in the practical world of the steppe. Successful Buddhist merchants were seen as having a successful god. From the 7th century, Nestorian Christians would proselytise and heal the wounded and as a result, nomads would draw crosses on the sick’s foreheads to aid in their recovery. If a religion had practical and observable advantages then they integrated this way of life into their own. Many Turks for instance converted to the world-conquering Islamic faith believing it would accord them victory, which it largely did. Central Asia's location also had this compressive role as a highway of information, creating a melting pot of faith. By understanding the environment and beliefs of the nomads a far clearer picture is painted by the author and avoids many of the narrative traps, books like Anthony Sattin’s ‘Nomads’ fall into. Over romanticising or demonising a nomadic way of life does not do history justice. These were truly remarkable people and had a major impact on the course of history and it's worth acknowledging that.
Particularly impressive among those feats are that of the Indo-Aryans. Wow, what an impressive impact on history (much to the Hindu national's disdain lol). 'Empire of the Steppe' offers a fascinating account of their spread, from England to India these people roved across Eurasia. Innovations like chariot warfare and the domestication of the horse defined their eras. The languages they spoke are the origin of most modern Eurasian languages to this day, from Hindi, Persian, Greek, Latin, and English all the way to Spanish. Ironically these nomads were so successful that they brought their way of life to the Altic boreal ancestors of the Turks and Mongols who eventually replaced them. Learning which tribe is from which cultural group really felt like plugging gaps in my own understanding. Even just the way tribal identity was shaped on the steppe played into the dynamics of history, previously minor tribes would suddenly rise up and become the dominant ethnic group over a twenty-year period. This is contrary to modern ideas of nationalism but proved decisive across Eurasia as a powerful motivating factor or the ‘asabiyyah’ of a tribe (sidebar, I don’t think I’ve read a history book without Ibn Khaldun being mentioned at LEAST once). What was also mind-boggling was the continuity of belief in the various Eurasian steppe cultures over thousands of years. Their faith was a reflection of the environment they inhabited. Central Asia was at the confluence of so many civilisations and yet the steppe people never truly converted until they were crushed in the 15th and 16th centuries, rather integrating beliefs of various religions to aid them (as well as some conversions of course).
A minor criticism is the inaccessibility of the language, despite it being well written. Given this is sold in bookstores and is not an academic treatise some readers may have found it prohibitive. The issue is the sheer density of historical jargon and the lack of maps, as I found myself a couple of times having to double-check where the author was talking about. The glossary may aid some readers but unless you have a keen understanding of historical geography and naming conventions you may struggle at times. This becomes less of an issue towards the end of the book, as you become more accustomed and the topics more well-known. However, 5-10 maps throughout the book would have made great reference material for any reader not super invested in their historical understanding.
Unfortunately, the much greater sin and the reason why I've taken a star off is the way the book ends. It completely excludes a section on why the steppe nomads were rolled back by Eurasia’s gunpowder empires and fell into obscurity. This is a shame because there was a great chance for some excellent analysis of the fundamental shift that occurred in the 15th century which ended the nomad's dominance. It would have only needed another twenty-page chapter right at the end of a 410-page book. It felt especially weird that a book whose main aim is to convince the reader about the impact of these nomadic people doesn't spend any time analysing why they fell out of favour. Gunpowder, ocean travel, and increasing absolutism broke the back of this way of life and a comprehensive history should mention that. The author instead ends the narrative with Tamerlane and the last high point of these deadly steppe archers. This made it feel rather incomplete. That being said, please don’t let this dissuade you as it is an excellent book
Steppe peoples have through various periods, been demonised as murderous barbarians or glorified as tolerant, enlightened saints. While there is certainly some truth to both of these accounts, ‘Empires of the Steppes’ shy’s away from this black and white portrait. This is really helped by the book defining the belief system of the Altic and Indo-Aryan peoples. Each believed in a sky lord, Tengri and Dyeus (the origin of Deus in English) respectively, as well as a host of minor gods. Religions like Buddhism easily integrated notions of Dharma into the broader nomad worldview. Further religions each provided a way to grasp the nature of Tengri in the practical world of the steppe. Successful Buddhist merchants were seen as having a successful god. From the 7th century, Nestorian Christians would proselytise and heal the wounded and as a result, nomads would draw crosses on the sick’s foreheads to aid in their recovery. If a religion had practical and observable advantages then they integrated this way of life into their own. Many Turks for instance converted to the world-conquering Islamic faith believing it would accord them victory, which it largely did. Central Asia's location also had this compressive role as a highway of information, creating a melting pot of faith. By understanding the environment and beliefs of the nomads a far clearer picture is painted by the author and avoids many of the narrative traps, books like Anthony Sattin’s ‘Nomads’ fall into. Over romanticising or demonising a nomadic way of life does not do history justice. These were truly remarkable people and had a major impact on the course of history and it's worth acknowledging that.
Particularly impressive among those feats are that of the Indo-Aryans. Wow, what an impressive impact on history (much to the Hindu national's disdain lol). 'Empire of the Steppe' offers a fascinating account of their spread, from England to India these people roved across Eurasia. Innovations like chariot warfare and the domestication of the horse defined their eras. The languages they spoke are the origin of most modern Eurasian languages to this day, from Hindi, Persian, Greek, Latin, and English all the way to Spanish. Ironically these nomads were so successful that they brought their way of life to the Altic boreal ancestors of the Turks and Mongols who eventually replaced them. Learning which tribe is from which cultural group really felt like plugging gaps in my own understanding. Even just the way tribal identity was shaped on the steppe played into the dynamics of history, previously minor tribes would suddenly rise up and become the dominant ethnic group over a twenty-year period. This is contrary to modern ideas of nationalism but proved decisive across Eurasia as a powerful motivating factor or the ‘asabiyyah’ of a tribe (sidebar, I don’t think I’ve read a history book without Ibn Khaldun being mentioned at LEAST once). What was also mind-boggling was the continuity of belief in the various Eurasian steppe cultures over thousands of years. Their faith was a reflection of the environment they inhabited. Central Asia was at the confluence of so many civilisations and yet the steppe people never truly converted until they were crushed in the 15th and 16th centuries, rather integrating beliefs of various religions to aid them (as well as some conversions of course).
A minor criticism is the inaccessibility of the language, despite it being well written. Given this is sold in bookstores and is not an academic treatise some readers may have found it prohibitive. The issue is the sheer density of historical jargon and the lack of maps, as I found myself a couple of times having to double-check where the author was talking about. The glossary may aid some readers but unless you have a keen understanding of historical geography and naming conventions you may struggle at times. This becomes less of an issue towards the end of the book, as you become more accustomed and the topics more well-known. However, 5-10 maps throughout the book would have made great reference material for any reader not super invested in their historical understanding.
Unfortunately, the much greater sin and the reason why I've taken a star off is the way the book ends. It completely excludes a section on why the steppe nomads were rolled back by Eurasia’s gunpowder empires and fell into obscurity. This is a shame because there was a great chance for some excellent analysis of the fundamental shift that occurred in the 15th century which ended the nomad's dominance. It would have only needed another twenty-page chapter right at the end of a 410-page book. It felt especially weird that a book whose main aim is to convince the reader about the impact of these nomadic people doesn't spend any time analysing why they fell out of favour. Gunpowder, ocean travel, and increasing absolutism broke the back of this way of life and a comprehensive history should mention that. The author instead ends the narrative with Tamerlane and the last high point of these deadly steppe archers. This made it feel rather incomplete. That being said, please don’t let this dissuade you as it is an excellent book
September 3, 2023
The book is topically very interesting and will present compelling conclusions regarding how Steppe peoples have influenced history to an extent criminally underrepresented, at least in the education I had received through college. This book does a very good job of staying on topic and grinding it’s axe; it always reverts back to the core argument of how X Steppe people influenced Y region at this time and we can see how this resulted in Z today.
My concerns with this book are largely organizational, but I would like to point out there is a very thorough glossary in this book that readers should absolutely utilize; it’s very well done and relieves much confusion from a story this big.
I would like to see future editions of this book contain maps and illustrations. As far as the former, this book covers an immense geographical territory from Europe to the Middle East to China, and I just feel like the author expects the reader to enter this text with too much of a geographical understanding of the terrain and cities (many of which no longer exist or were renamed). As far as illustrations, the evidence of the book is based largely around archaeological findings and Harl’s expertise in ancient coinage, which is fascinating, but it would be nice to be able to reference examples of these within the text.
Moreover, illustration sections are a great way to summarize the narrative of a nonfiction book with captions corresponding to the images, and this book suffers greatly from several sections that yada-yada over long stretches of time and names that you feel like you have no idea what’s going on at times. I understand there is need to condense; this book would be like 2,000 pages if it fleshed out everything it brings up. But the book would have benefited from maybe 30-50 more pages of narrative; some parts are a slog of events that are barely explained involving people mentioned one time and the years go forward and back and it just gets messy. But I really do think a well structured illustration section with well written captions to summarize the narrative in a later edition would help what is an incredibly intriguing argument.
This book is worth your time; 3 out of 5 for me in its current state, but if maps and illustrations are added at a later time, probably worth 4 out of 5.
My concerns with this book are largely organizational, but I would like to point out there is a very thorough glossary in this book that readers should absolutely utilize; it’s very well done and relieves much confusion from a story this big.
I would like to see future editions of this book contain maps and illustrations. As far as the former, this book covers an immense geographical territory from Europe to the Middle East to China, and I just feel like the author expects the reader to enter this text with too much of a geographical understanding of the terrain and cities (many of which no longer exist or were renamed). As far as illustrations, the evidence of the book is based largely around archaeological findings and Harl’s expertise in ancient coinage, which is fascinating, but it would be nice to be able to reference examples of these within the text.
Moreover, illustration sections are a great way to summarize the narrative of a nonfiction book with captions corresponding to the images, and this book suffers greatly from several sections that yada-yada over long stretches of time and names that you feel like you have no idea what’s going on at times. I understand there is need to condense; this book would be like 2,000 pages if it fleshed out everything it brings up. But the book would have benefited from maybe 30-50 more pages of narrative; some parts are a slog of events that are barely explained involving people mentioned one time and the years go forward and back and it just gets messy. But I really do think a well structured illustration section with well written captions to summarize the narrative in a later edition would help what is an incredibly intriguing argument.
This book is worth your time; 3 out of 5 for me in its current state, but if maps and illustrations are added at a later time, probably worth 4 out of 5.
August 29, 2023
This is a thorough and expansive study of the Eurasian Steppes and the people that originate there. I like how the author is able to relate the events of the book into historical context of readers who have limited familiarity to this subject. Lastly the author also excels at tying the events and people focused in this story to the wider world and the how their impact affects people today.
September 3, 2023
عن تاريخ القبائل الرحل التي عاشت وسط أسيا وحروبها مع الإمبراطوريات المجاورة، الصينية والفارسية والرومية. كتاب امبراطوريات السهوب يسرد تاريخ ممالك القبائل الرحل هذه، من وقت السكيثيون حتى الاتراك والمغول ونهاية بتيمورلك وعاصمته سمرقند. الكتاب مفصل وكثير الأحداث لكنه ممتع.
December 26, 2023
As a quote from Martyn Rady on the reverse of my copy says, this is an "encyclopaedic account". This is undoubtedly true. Harl's attention to detail and range is excellent. This book covers the impact of Steppe nomads in the bronze age, the Scythians, Attila the Hun, the Xiongnu, Turks, all the way through to Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan and Tamerlane.
Yet, Harl's efforts to create an encyclopaedic account with enormous details, emphasises narrative over analysis. At the end of each chapter, after the narrative, Harl offers some analysis but these passages are disappointingly short. The subtitle of the book 'the nomadic tribes who shaped civilisation' is not lived up to. The ways in which the Steppe nomads shaped civilisation is not a major focus of the book. The epilogue attempts, briefly, a synthesis of the period covered, but the book chronically lacked a take-away 'big idea'.
Further, the readability of the book is limited by two things. First, the lack of maps. The detailed chronologies rely on a knowledge of the regions being discussed to understand the range and regions covered. Without reference maps this is difficult. Second, the lack of pictures. Less important than the maps, but reference pictures would have aided the reading experience.
Yet, Harl's efforts to create an encyclopaedic account with enormous details, emphasises narrative over analysis. At the end of each chapter, after the narrative, Harl offers some analysis but these passages are disappointingly short. The subtitle of the book 'the nomadic tribes who shaped civilisation' is not lived up to. The ways in which the Steppe nomads shaped civilisation is not a major focus of the book. The epilogue attempts, briefly, a synthesis of the period covered, but the book chronically lacked a take-away 'big idea'.
Further, the readability of the book is limited by two things. First, the lack of maps. The detailed chronologies rely on a knowledge of the regions being discussed to understand the range and regions covered. Without reference maps this is difficult. Second, the lack of pictures. Less important than the maps, but reference pictures would have aided the reading experience.
August 13, 2023
A well researched and well written account of the Eurasian nomadic tribes and their role in history.
This isn’t a subject of specific interest for me, but it is an area of history where I felt there were some holes in my knowledge and this book felt like a good opportunity to remedy that. The book didn’t foster a newfound interest in the topic, but it did fill the aforementioned holes, and did so in an intriguing and thorough manner.
I want to specifically appreciate the research that went into this book, since due to the widespread nature of the content (historically and geographically) it’s a tough subject on which to write nonfiction without either making the book way too dense and unpalatable for typical nonfiction readers or making it too general as to be of any use to any but the least educated of reader. The book split the difference well, and that’s no easy feat.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
This isn’t a subject of specific interest for me, but it is an area of history where I felt there were some holes in my knowledge and this book felt like a good opportunity to remedy that. The book didn’t foster a newfound interest in the topic, but it did fill the aforementioned holes, and did so in an intriguing and thorough manner.
I want to specifically appreciate the research that went into this book, since due to the widespread nature of the content (historically and geographically) it’s a tough subject on which to write nonfiction without either making the book way too dense and unpalatable for typical nonfiction readers or making it too general as to be of any use to any but the least educated of reader. The book split the difference well, and that’s no easy feat.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
August 2, 2023
I enjoy reading about history, so I enjoyed the book. It is a complete documentation of nomadic tribes of the Steppes, a topic about which I know little, and the author does not miss anything.
This may be the problem with it.
The author admits up front that the topic of discussion is not his specialty, but as a historian and professor, he has the skillset to apply to new subject matter. He is a thorough, everything is in order, and every topic is covered. However, as the topic is new to him, the author doesn't know what to leave out to make the book presentable. For someone like me who was hoping for an introductory volume to the topic, I often got lost in the details. However, it deserves four stars as if I ever have a question on the topic that I want to look up, I know where to find it and much of the book was fascinating.
I received this book from Netgalley.
This may be the problem with it.
The author admits up front that the topic of discussion is not his specialty, but as a historian and professor, he has the skillset to apply to new subject matter. He is a thorough, everything is in order, and every topic is covered. However, as the topic is new to him, the author doesn't know what to leave out to make the book presentable. For someone like me who was hoping for an introductory volume to the topic, I often got lost in the details. However, it deserves four stars as if I ever have a question on the topic that I want to look up, I know where to find it and much of the book was fascinating.
I received this book from Netgalley.
February 22, 2024
The book reads as if the author went down the Wikipedia rabbit hole 24 times: an approach to history equivalent to "one damn thing after another", a lack of disciplined copy editing (how many times do you need to write "the river Jaxartes (Syr Darya)") or any critical editing ("the cravenly [sic] emperor", "the autocratic regimes forged in response to the Mongols"), and no analysis to move the overload of factual statements beyond "and then, and then, and then."
Two stars because it did have interesting interludes, like the linguistic asides.
Two stars because it did have interesting interludes, like the linguistic asides.
Shelved as 'dnf'
August 24, 2023DNF at p33
A bit dense for what I’m looking for right now. Drops an awful lot of names (people, civilizations, languages, places) with minimal context or explanation. Give me a map at the very least!
8.23.23
A bit dense for what I’m looking for right now. Drops an awful lot of names (people, civilizations, languages, places) with minimal context or explanation. Give me a map at the very least!
8.23.23
July 3, 2023
Empire of the Steppes is a densely informative and uber-comprehensive dive into the nomads of the Eurasian steppes and their impact on the world, with a particular emphasis on the great three conquerors: Attila, Genghis Kahn, and Tamerlane. It is not an easy book by any stretch. Be prepared for navigating through a seemingly unending forest of names as we move in space and time through a, well, “horde” of tribes, political groups, kingdoms, territories, individuals (many of whom are known my multiple names), sons, wives, cousins, cousins twice removed, second cousins three times removed, and so on. Honestly, as a lay reader of history, I eventually just relaxed and let the names wash over without worrying about where they fit in time and place so much. Not particularly rigorous, I know, but it made the read much more enjoyable. And I allowed myself a little frisson of excitable pride when I did recognize a group that fell in the middle range between well-known and wholly obscure: “Parthians? I know them!”
Another reason the book is not easy is that it shifts time quite a lot as Harl shows us links between people or groups. And when he introduces a new group he very often will go back in time and then bring us forward through their earliest known record, their migration into new areas, shifts into new ways of living, etc. until we’re brought up into the “present” time when they intersect with whatever was happening when they were first introduced into the narrative.
To be clear, these are not complaints, merely observations. I actually appreciate the author’s commitment to specific, detail, and fullness of story. And as I said, the thicket of names didn’t detract from the reading. And the author was never anything but clear and precise, and mostly engaging throughout. This is not “dry” reading or mere recitation of dates, names, and places by any stretch. Harl not only explains major events well and connects the incredibly complex web over time and geography, he also offers up many fascinating details and anecdotes. As for the time shifts, I’m not sure of how he could have avoided that, and in any case, I actually liked seeing how all these groups arrived at whenever/wherever they do rather than just have appear on the scene with no sense of their history. I’m OK with having to pay attention to my reading.
One absolute detriment to my reading was a lack of maps. I have to imagine this was due to my having an advanced reader copy, though usually such copies will say artwork is forthcoming. I can’t imagine a book so complex and so comprehensive being published without maps, so I’ll just assume they’ll be there. On the probably less-than-one-percent chance it is published without maps, then I absolutely recommend not starting it until you call up some maps at hand—believe me, you’ll need them, as often times one isn’t dealing with country borders (at least, not today’s countries) but with natural borders between territories—rivers, mountains, etc. I can sort out in my head where China, Afghanistan, Iran, etc. are, as well as many of the major cities named like Damascus or Constantinople or Samarkand. But the finer-grained geography of mountain passes, rivers that aren’t easily recognizable landmarks like the Ganges or Volga, etc. and I’m lost in space.
Dense as noted above. But thoroughly enjoyable and informative and thus recommended for anyone with interest in the particular topic or in general history of Asia/Europe
Another reason the book is not easy is that it shifts time quite a lot as Harl shows us links between people or groups. And when he introduces a new group he very often will go back in time and then bring us forward through their earliest known record, their migration into new areas, shifts into new ways of living, etc. until we’re brought up into the “present” time when they intersect with whatever was happening when they were first introduced into the narrative.
To be clear, these are not complaints, merely observations. I actually appreciate the author’s commitment to specific, detail, and fullness of story. And as I said, the thicket of names didn’t detract from the reading. And the author was never anything but clear and precise, and mostly engaging throughout. This is not “dry” reading or mere recitation of dates, names, and places by any stretch. Harl not only explains major events well and connects the incredibly complex web over time and geography, he also offers up many fascinating details and anecdotes. As for the time shifts, I’m not sure of how he could have avoided that, and in any case, I actually liked seeing how all these groups arrived at whenever/wherever they do rather than just have appear on the scene with no sense of their history. I’m OK with having to pay attention to my reading.
One absolute detriment to my reading was a lack of maps. I have to imagine this was due to my having an advanced reader copy, though usually such copies will say artwork is forthcoming. I can’t imagine a book so complex and so comprehensive being published without maps, so I’ll just assume they’ll be there. On the probably less-than-one-percent chance it is published without maps, then I absolutely recommend not starting it until you call up some maps at hand—believe me, you’ll need them, as often times one isn’t dealing with country borders (at least, not today’s countries) but with natural borders between territories—rivers, mountains, etc. I can sort out in my head where China, Afghanistan, Iran, etc. are, as well as many of the major cities named like Damascus or Constantinople or Samarkand. But the finer-grained geography of mountain passes, rivers that aren’t easily recognizable landmarks like the Ganges or Volga, etc. and I’m lost in space.
Dense as noted above. But thoroughly enjoyable and informative and thus recommended for anyone with interest in the particular topic or in general history of Asia/Europe
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October 6, 2023Absorbed in Kenneth Harl’s Empires of the Steppes I was aware that less than a tithe of what I was reading would be remembered by the end of a week. The book is a rollercoaster of historical narration, covering 45 centuries of relentless conflict emanating from the grassland steppes in Central Asia. Such is the nature of epic works: readers of John Julius Norwich’s three-volume history of Byzantium or Steven Runciman’s three-volume history of the Crusades will know the enchantment of history embellished by a blizzard of names which each take their turn to strut and fret their hour upon the stage, and then are heard of no more. Among the swirl we learn that Josephus, the historian of the Jewish revolt, observed Sarmatian cavalry first hand when one of their raids sliced into the Near East in ad 72, and that the very last Roman emperor of them all was the son of the man who ran Attila’s chancellery. We meet Yelü Dashi, the inspiration for Prester John, and follow Hulagu Khan as his forces storm the mountaintop castles of the Assassins on his way to destroy the caliph at Baghdad. The world of the steppes is brutal: among the more memorable takeaways is the revelation that the Mamluk ruling class that dominated medieval Egypt was comprised of Kipchak boys, each of whom had been kidnapped by Mongol horsemen, sold to Venetian and Genoese slave traders on the Black Sea shore, shipped to Egypt and there purchased and trained in the slave army of the sultans. The focus of this book is not so much the indigenous nomadic societies of Central Asia, but on how they impacted their ‘civilised’ neighbours.
The timescale will challenge many readers, as will the constantly shifting geography. Harl turns from events that affected the ancient Chinese dynasties, to those that impacted on the medieval states that dominated the Middle East, and then shifts to the frontiers of the Eastern Roman Empire and the Christian kingdoms that stood in its wake. But the irresistible strength of the cavalry armies that emerged from the steppes was based on the forbidding climate of Central Asia: an oven in summer, a blizzard in winter and a paradise in spring. The steppes are vast, stretching over 6,000 miles of grassland between the Danube and the Amur. By 3500 bc, the various scattered communities of hunters and sheep herders had domesticated the horse, and soon after developed wheeled ox-carts to carry their families and felt tents with them. The ensuing mobility can be traced by the wide dissemination of Indo-European culture, followed by wave after wave of further invasions, empowered by such steppe inventions as the chariot, the stirrup and, most potent of all, the composite bow and the armoured knight.
Read the rest of the review at HistoryToday.com.
Barnaby Rogerson is publisher at Eland Books.
The timescale will challenge many readers, as will the constantly shifting geography. Harl turns from events that affected the ancient Chinese dynasties, to those that impacted on the medieval states that dominated the Middle East, and then shifts to the frontiers of the Eastern Roman Empire and the Christian kingdoms that stood in its wake. But the irresistible strength of the cavalry armies that emerged from the steppes was based on the forbidding climate of Central Asia: an oven in summer, a blizzard in winter and a paradise in spring. The steppes are vast, stretching over 6,000 miles of grassland between the Danube and the Amur. By 3500 bc, the various scattered communities of hunters and sheep herders had domesticated the horse, and soon after developed wheeled ox-carts to carry their families and felt tents with them. The ensuing mobility can be traced by the wide dissemination of Indo-European culture, followed by wave after wave of further invasions, empowered by such steppe inventions as the chariot, the stirrup and, most potent of all, the composite bow and the armoured knight.
Read the rest of the review at HistoryToday.com.
Barnaby Rogerson is publisher at Eland Books.
July 25, 2023
There's a lot of good information in this book. Kenneth W. Harl takes us on a tour of various nomadic tribes/empires, from the well-known like the Huns and Mongols to the more obscure like the Xiongnu and Hephthalites, and taken on substance the book is very worthy. However, I must fervently hope that the ARC version I read will be significantly better-edited by the time it is published.
The foreword mentions that the book is essentially a "bookification" of Harl's lecture notes on the subject, and I think it shows in certain ways. There is a lot of repetition. For instance, the book parenthetically identifies the frequently mentioned Jaxartes and Oxus rivers as the modern-day Syr Darya and Amu Darya nearly every time they come up, to an absurd degree -- it started to make it feel like the proverbial too-clever middle school science report where the student puts the scientific name (Canis lupus, etc) after every animal mentioned, every time, to pad out the word count. The extreme (but not universal) repetition of this makes me wonder if he had the modern names in parentheses the first time they ever came up in any particular lecture, and that just got blindly carried into the book's text. In other places he specifies in two consecutive sentences that events took place in 435; in two consecutive sentences (in two different ways) mentions that Kublai Khan was Genghis Khan's grandson; within a few pages repeats the same story of Genghis Khan ordering all living creatures in the valley of Bamyan slain, in retribution for the death of his favorite grandson; and redundantly translates Kara Koyonlu (Black Sheep Turks) twice within about a page (and later alternatively translates it as Black Sheep Turkmens).
All these things (as well as misspelling "Mauryan" as "Mauyran" literally every time it occurs, among a number of other spelling and grammatical errors) could be improved by a more thorough edit, so I must hope that the ARC I read is particularly rough. Being able to identify certain errors makes me worry about how much of the book has other errors that I can't identify, not being an expert, which undermines the whole experience. With a better polish on it, this could be a really fine book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for the ARC.
The foreword mentions that the book is essentially a "bookification" of Harl's lecture notes on the subject, and I think it shows in certain ways. There is a lot of repetition. For instance, the book parenthetically identifies the frequently mentioned Jaxartes and Oxus rivers as the modern-day Syr Darya and Amu Darya nearly every time they come up, to an absurd degree -- it started to make it feel like the proverbial too-clever middle school science report where the student puts the scientific name (Canis lupus, etc) after every animal mentioned, every time, to pad out the word count. The extreme (but not universal) repetition of this makes me wonder if he had the modern names in parentheses the first time they ever came up in any particular lecture, and that just got blindly carried into the book's text. In other places he specifies in two consecutive sentences that events took place in 435; in two consecutive sentences (in two different ways) mentions that Kublai Khan was Genghis Khan's grandson; within a few pages repeats the same story of Genghis Khan ordering all living creatures in the valley of Bamyan slain, in retribution for the death of his favorite grandson; and redundantly translates Kara Koyonlu (Black Sheep Turks) twice within about a page (and later alternatively translates it as Black Sheep Turkmens).
All these things (as well as misspelling "Mauryan" as "Mauyran" literally every time it occurs, among a number of other spelling and grammatical errors) could be improved by a more thorough edit, so I must hope that the ARC I read is particularly rough. Being able to identify certain errors makes me worry about how much of the book has other errors that I can't identify, not being an expert, which undermines the whole experience. With a better polish on it, this could be a really fine book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for the ARC.
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June 14, 2024Lotta desultory wars happening in Antiquity and the Middle Ages
June 4, 2024
Empires of the Steppes has an enticing premise to tell the story of the nomadic tribes who created the modern world we live in today. A premise which is embellished but never fully realized.
The beginning of the book was fantastic. A story is told around Atilla which arouses interest and presages great drama having the reader hooked from the moment the book starts. Subsequently, Harl renders a great summary on the emergence of the steppe societies, particularly focusing on the Scythians and their customs influenced by migration and climate.
Paramount events in the history of the Steppe are then covered with the three main characters of Atilla, Genghis Khan and Timur embellished with glee. These characters though are analyzed through the Lense of a historian rather than a storyteller. I felt the three stories of these nomadic conquerors could have been linked in finer fashion juxtaposing their personalities and success but also similarities in goals.
I felt a lot of the historical events in central Asia between the fall of the Sassanians to the Mongols is somewhat glossed over. The explanation on the Turkic migrations into Anatolia are insightful. However, they are also quite brief, and I feel that more embellishment on the religious conversions that took place, and the various leaders would have been beneficial and given further depth to the historical work.
Harl did a good job of covering the lesser-known empires. A true shining point is the Parthian empire. How they checked the power of Rome acting as a bulwark to a Mediterranean power which has repercussions in politics to the present. The Kushan empire was insightful additionally. This little understood empire and culture which rose from the ashes of nomadic migrations establishing an eclectic Buddhist state is paramount to the history of Central Asia. Paramount civilizations in the first establishment of ties between east and west leading to the creation of the later day Silk Road.
A lot of the book was written from a historian's point of view. This meant that it lacked a coherent narrative at times, I felt like Harl was summarizing a lot of the key events that had taken place in Central Asia and briefly dissecting them. This is great for general knowledge of those who are enticed by history and seeing each episode as an independent chapter. Some great insights are rendered in this manner such as the making of modern China and the transition of Central Asia to a Turkic rather than Iranian speaking land.
However, it meant that he kept on touching on complex historical patterns that took place such as the migration of the Turks, war between the Xiongnu, Mongol invasions and Atilla's invasion of Europe giving a quick elaboration without the full depth. For example, the campaigns of Timur and his motivations in reuniting the Mongol Empire. Why his empire did not last and the driving force behind reunification was not fully touched upon. Perturbing since dissecting the history seemed to take precedence as a motivation over the narrative.
Arousing and enticing insights on the history of the peoples of the Eurasian steppes are provided by Harl providing detail on modern China, Turkey and Iran. Nevertheless, a complete compelling story of the people of the Eurasian steppes illuminating their motivations and similarities is more what I was expecting and searching for in reading his work.
The beginning of the book was fantastic. A story is told around Atilla which arouses interest and presages great drama having the reader hooked from the moment the book starts. Subsequently, Harl renders a great summary on the emergence of the steppe societies, particularly focusing on the Scythians and their customs influenced by migration and climate.
Paramount events in the history of the Steppe are then covered with the three main characters of Atilla, Genghis Khan and Timur embellished with glee. These characters though are analyzed through the Lense of a historian rather than a storyteller. I felt the three stories of these nomadic conquerors could have been linked in finer fashion juxtaposing their personalities and success but also similarities in goals.
I felt a lot of the historical events in central Asia between the fall of the Sassanians to the Mongols is somewhat glossed over. The explanation on the Turkic migrations into Anatolia are insightful. However, they are also quite brief, and I feel that more embellishment on the religious conversions that took place, and the various leaders would have been beneficial and given further depth to the historical work.
Harl did a good job of covering the lesser-known empires. A true shining point is the Parthian empire. How they checked the power of Rome acting as a bulwark to a Mediterranean power which has repercussions in politics to the present. The Kushan empire was insightful additionally. This little understood empire and culture which rose from the ashes of nomadic migrations establishing an eclectic Buddhist state is paramount to the history of Central Asia. Paramount civilizations in the first establishment of ties between east and west leading to the creation of the later day Silk Road.
A lot of the book was written from a historian's point of view. This meant that it lacked a coherent narrative at times, I felt like Harl was summarizing a lot of the key events that had taken place in Central Asia and briefly dissecting them. This is great for general knowledge of those who are enticed by history and seeing each episode as an independent chapter. Some great insights are rendered in this manner such as the making of modern China and the transition of Central Asia to a Turkic rather than Iranian speaking land.
However, it meant that he kept on touching on complex historical patterns that took place such as the migration of the Turks, war between the Xiongnu, Mongol invasions and Atilla's invasion of Europe giving a quick elaboration without the full depth. For example, the campaigns of Timur and his motivations in reuniting the Mongol Empire. Why his empire did not last and the driving force behind reunification was not fully touched upon. Perturbing since dissecting the history seemed to take precedence as a motivation over the narrative.
Arousing and enticing insights on the history of the peoples of the Eurasian steppes are provided by Harl providing detail on modern China, Turkey and Iran. Nevertheless, a complete compelling story of the people of the Eurasian steppes illuminating their motivations and similarities is more what I was expecting and searching for in reading his work.
July 11, 2024
I really wanted to like this book, but it was let down in its execution.
Although clearly well researched and written by an incredibly knowledgeable author, it had some serious shortcomings that really impacted the reading experience.
Firstly - no maps or pictures.
Each chapter would have been vastly improved with a map at the beginning detailing the geographical area the chapter was covering to contextualise the events covered. Without this, the author relies on readers having an encyclopaedic knowledge of the past and present human and physical geography of the entire Eurasian continent, which is just not realistic. There were also many times that Harl mentions artefacts that could have been shown in pictures to also enrich the experience.
Secondly - pacing issues.
Sounds like a weird thing to say about a history book, but one chapter on Attilla covers approx 75 years, whilst the next on his heirs and legacy covers nearly 10 times that, necessitating a dizzying succession of ‘and then, and then, and then’ style writing.
Thirdly - the structure.
Whilst the book was largely chronological, there was still a lot of jumping back and forth time periods and jumping from east to west, that at times it was hard to keep track. Chapters were often started with an overview of the most exciting event to get covered in that chapter before jumping backwards to explore the lead up to this event. This could have worked, but in my opinion was executed poorly and led to confusion.
Lastly - it seems like it needed more editor input.
The above issues could have been solved with a stronger editorial input. This likely would also have minimised the unnecessary, confusing, and consistent use of interchangeable but completely different titles for the same group of people, and towards the end, the obvious errors in chronology. For example, a section in the last chapter whereby a battle Tamerlane wins in 1402 sets off a chain of events that ends with him arriving home in Samarkand in 1400 - 2 years before he started. This wasn’t the only instance of this, but I couldn’t find the others again post-completion.
Overall, an interesting book but not for the faint of heart, and easily improved with some relatively simple additions.
Although clearly well researched and written by an incredibly knowledgeable author, it had some serious shortcomings that really impacted the reading experience.
Firstly - no maps or pictures.
Each chapter would have been vastly improved with a map at the beginning detailing the geographical area the chapter was covering to contextualise the events covered. Without this, the author relies on readers having an encyclopaedic knowledge of the past and present human and physical geography of the entire Eurasian continent, which is just not realistic. There were also many times that Harl mentions artefacts that could have been shown in pictures to also enrich the experience.
Secondly - pacing issues.
Sounds like a weird thing to say about a history book, but one chapter on Attilla covers approx 75 years, whilst the next on his heirs and legacy covers nearly 10 times that, necessitating a dizzying succession of ‘and then, and then, and then’ style writing.
Thirdly - the structure.
Whilst the book was largely chronological, there was still a lot of jumping back and forth time periods and jumping from east to west, that at times it was hard to keep track. Chapters were often started with an overview of the most exciting event to get covered in that chapter before jumping backwards to explore the lead up to this event. This could have worked, but in my opinion was executed poorly and led to confusion.
Lastly - it seems like it needed more editor input.
The above issues could have been solved with a stronger editorial input. This likely would also have minimised the unnecessary, confusing, and consistent use of interchangeable but completely different titles for the same group of people, and towards the end, the obvious errors in chronology. For example, a section in the last chapter whereby a battle Tamerlane wins in 1402 sets off a chain of events that ends with him arriving home in Samarkand in 1400 - 2 years before he started. This wasn’t the only instance of this, but I couldn’t find the others again post-completion.
Overall, an interesting book but not for the faint of heart, and easily improved with some relatively simple additions.
July 27, 2024
Given the format and tone of this book, I guess that the author intended to write a popular history. If that is true, I don’t think this book is fully successful. There is a bit too much detail in the wrong places and not enough detail in the right places. There are lots of names and dates, but not a lot of humanity.
I don’t think that is the fault of the author, though. There just are not enough historical sources to write a compelling popular history of steppe nomad confederations. We only know the names of a few leaders and dates of key battles. These tribal confederations and their charismatic leaders did not keep written records. The author does the best he can with what he has but the text comes off as a little dense and repetitive.
I do think the author was successful at distilling close to 2500 years history into a digestible package. This book is a good primer on the major invasions of the settled lands in Asia and the Near East by the Eurasian nomads. It will also be a good reference because it is organized so well.
My only gripes are with some of the information that Harl chooses to state as fact. He repeatedly states that Mongolian, Turkish and Tunguskic languages are part of a larger Altaic language family. My understanding is that this is far from settled. He also states the Mongols emerged from the Taiga and took up nomadism like the Magyars. I don't think that is widely accepted either.
Harl is also a bit of Genghis Khan realist. He doesn't outright condemn GK for his atrocities, he instead tries to contextualize and explain. He doesn't downplay anything but he does promote GK's better points. I just want to warn any potential readers that might be sensitive to this topic.
I’m not sure it would be good for a general reader because it is fairly dense. I love this stuff and I’m grateful for any author who writes on the nomads, and so would given it five stars, but it’s not really successful on its own terms. It is concise and comprehensive, but the historical material needed to write a popular history on this scale does not exist. So, it's somewhere between three and four stars for me. Rounding up because I’m grateful for the work that went into this history.
I don’t think that is the fault of the author, though. There just are not enough historical sources to write a compelling popular history of steppe nomad confederations. We only know the names of a few leaders and dates of key battles. These tribal confederations and their charismatic leaders did not keep written records. The author does the best he can with what he has but the text comes off as a little dense and repetitive.
I do think the author was successful at distilling close to 2500 years history into a digestible package. This book is a good primer on the major invasions of the settled lands in Asia and the Near East by the Eurasian nomads. It will also be a good reference because it is organized so well.
My only gripes are with some of the information that Harl chooses to state as fact. He repeatedly states that Mongolian, Turkish and Tunguskic languages are part of a larger Altaic language family. My understanding is that this is far from settled. He also states the Mongols emerged from the Taiga and took up nomadism like the Magyars. I don't think that is widely accepted either.
Harl is also a bit of Genghis Khan realist. He doesn't outright condemn GK for his atrocities, he instead tries to contextualize and explain. He doesn't downplay anything but he does promote GK's better points. I just want to warn any potential readers that might be sensitive to this topic.
I’m not sure it would be good for a general reader because it is fairly dense. I love this stuff and I’m grateful for any author who writes on the nomads, and so would given it five stars, but it’s not really successful on its own terms. It is concise and comprehensive, but the historical material needed to write a popular history on this scale does not exist. So, it's somewhere between three and four stars for me. Rounding up because I’m grateful for the work that went into this history.
October 31, 2023
This book covers a very long period of time (from 3000 BCE to 1405 CE), and a vast swathe of our planet (roughly from the Caspian Sea in the southwest and Eastern Europe in the northwest to Western China and Mongolia in the east, and from Northern India and Iran in the south to Russia in the north). While the text provides the requisite information, the book sorely needs a timeline and maps. The timeline is necessary because some of the events in one chapter may overlap with the events in other chapters. The maps are necessary because several of the place names have changed, because several borders changed over time, and because it is difficult to follow the various migrations and war maneuvers without maps showing the same. The lack of maps is a serious flaw with this book.
Clearly the author read and researched extensively in order to write this book, but I found the constant end notes (Kindle edition) distracting and pointless. Fully half the book is taken up with the author citing his sources. The reader of a history based on secondary or tertiary sources does not need to know the specific source and particular page numbers of that source for each stated fact; a bibliography would be sufficient.
I am surprised at the number of typographical errors. For example, a couple citations read, "See Bernard, Assassins, pp. ..." when referring to Bernard Lewis . Another example: footnote numbered 14 ends with "See below note 14." There are a few instances in the text where the wrong word occurs. For example, when Tamerlane is conducting a war, the text states, "He detached his general Pir Muhammad against Multan." The correct word would appear to be "dispatched" rather than "detached."
Despite these shortcomings, I did learn quite a bit from the book, and its bibliography provides direction to sources for me to learn more.
Clearly the author read and researched extensively in order to write this book, but I found the constant end notes (Kindle edition) distracting and pointless. Fully half the book is taken up with the author citing his sources. The reader of a history based on secondary or tertiary sources does not need to know the specific source and particular page numbers of that source for each stated fact; a bibliography would be sufficient.
I am surprised at the number of typographical errors. For example, a couple citations read, "See Bernard, Assassins, pp. ..." when referring to Bernard Lewis . Another example: footnote numbered 14 ends with "See below note 14." There are a few instances in the text where the wrong word occurs. For example, when Tamerlane is conducting a war, the text states, "He detached his general Pir Muhammad against Multan." The correct word would appear to be "dispatched" rather than "detached."
Despite these shortcomings, I did learn quite a bit from the book, and its bibliography provides direction to sources for me to learn more.
February 14, 2024
This history of the steppe tribes has a strong start and end. Kenneth Harl shines when he delves into numismatics (his original specialty, I think?), a streamlined, more chronological narrative of a singular character, or the culture mores and practices of a specific group, tribe, society, or even city. In covering over 1,000 years of history and dozens of tribes, empires, and societies, Harl was a little too ambitious in scope, as evidenced by what became my primary complaint in the book: chronologically and thematically confusing jumbles of names, dates, and events stuffed into a few pages and paragraphs. When I squint and slow my reading down to exercise better critical reading skills, I can see him attempting to arrange themes by chapters, then hierarchically into sub-themes expressed within sections and paragraphs of said chapters. Despite what one may think, based on this description, the book doesn't really come off as information overload, and it's certainly never boring to me. The facts and events themselves are fascinating. I think a better editor and clearer, more focused statements of theses would have helped tighten this book up into a classic. For example: the steppe tribes clearly influenced civilization x in y way -> expound, repeat and return to said thesis, which is indeed the central theme of the book; x and y can be unique to each chapter, e.g. the Xiongnu and this old Chinese dynasty. Regardless, this book is relatively short and a great resource, given the scope of the topic. The section on Ghenghis Khan and his empire are worth reading by themselves. It's an overall enjoyable read that fell short of lofty expectations; that doesn't mean it's not good. If you want an efficient tour of the subject, pick it up.
April 24, 2024
In Kenneth Harl's book, Empire of the Steppes, the writer/historian traces the impact and legacy that nomadic peoples of Eurasia had on the world then and into the future. While well researched, I found the book's listing of facts, names, and cultures of people a little overwhelming at times. His chapters on Atilla the Hun, and the Mongols were excellent, as he seemed to "dial back" the barrage of information.
Also, I found his references to geographic places needing additional support in the form of maps. Fortunately, I had a general idea of the places he was discussing, and used Google Maps to fill in the gaps, but other readers may not be as versed in the geographic areas mentioned in the book. In addition to this, he references to likenesses of people on coins as a means to describe what some of the people looked like. Perhaps, adding pictures of the coins would have been a beneficial aid for readers as well.
Despite some of of its downfalls, the book is a wealth of information that provides readers with a perspective that comes from the raiders as opposed to the view of the rulers they warred against. I learned quite a bit and took my time to read this work. I would advise a novice to find something more simplistic, but those who have some background in history, give this book a try, as you will most likely gather information you probably had not been exposed to. A good book for select readers. Three stars.
Also, I found his references to geographic places needing additional support in the form of maps. Fortunately, I had a general idea of the places he was discussing, and used Google Maps to fill in the gaps, but other readers may not be as versed in the geographic areas mentioned in the book. In addition to this, he references to likenesses of people on coins as a means to describe what some of the people looked like. Perhaps, adding pictures of the coins would have been a beneficial aid for readers as well.
Despite some of of its downfalls, the book is a wealth of information that provides readers with a perspective that comes from the raiders as opposed to the view of the rulers they warred against. I learned quite a bit and took my time to read this work. I would advise a novice to find something more simplistic, but those who have some background in history, give this book a try, as you will most likely gather information you probably had not been exposed to. A good book for select readers. Three stars.
May 6, 2024
4/5 stars
Recommended if you like: ancient history, Eurasian history, nomadic tribes, archaeology
This wasn't quite the book I thought it was. I was hoping for a book on the various steppe/kurgan cultures of the Eurasian steppes and the details of their culture and history. Instead, this was more like an overview of specific periods of those cultures. Harl does go in depth about customs and language, but I was looking for more of an overview of the cultures rather than biographies with cultural support.
Each chapter focuses on a specific leader from the Eurasian steps. These range from well-known to more obscure leaders. As mentioned, while I wanted more about the cultures themselves, Harl actually does a good job going into great depth about the culture at a specific leader's point in history. He covers things like warfare methods, technological advancements, bureaucratic organization, food, and language. The linguistics in the book was a nice surprise and I really liked learning more about the specifics of Indo-European language development in the steppe region.
I found this book to be very educational, and while it wasn't entirely what I was going for, I did enjoy reading the book and learned a lot from it. My biggest issue with the text, however, is the often convoluted manner in which Harl says things. I only thought to note down one instance of it, but there were plenty where I had to reread a sentence multiple times because it didn't make sense the first time:
"In his account, idbn Fadlan was fascinated by the tall, fair-haired Rus, and so reports their methods of trade and a Viking ship burial on the banks of the Volga that was spectacularly re-created in the film 'The Thirteenth Warrior' (1970)" (p. 210)
For some, the sentence might make sense fine, but in the middle of reading I had trouble understanding what he was trying to say. A comma would have been helpful, or simply starting a new sentence about the Viking ship. And again, this is only one of many such instances throughout the book.
Overall I found this book to be interesting and educational. There are some parts that are challenging to get through, but it's definitely worth it if you're interested in the subject.
Recommended if you like: ancient history, Eurasian history, nomadic tribes, archaeology
This wasn't quite the book I thought it was. I was hoping for a book on the various steppe/kurgan cultures of the Eurasian steppes and the details of their culture and history. Instead, this was more like an overview of specific periods of those cultures. Harl does go in depth about customs and language, but I was looking for more of an overview of the cultures rather than biographies with cultural support.
Each chapter focuses on a specific leader from the Eurasian steps. These range from well-known to more obscure leaders. As mentioned, while I wanted more about the cultures themselves, Harl actually does a good job going into great depth about the culture at a specific leader's point in history. He covers things like warfare methods, technological advancements, bureaucratic organization, food, and language. The linguistics in the book was a nice surprise and I really liked learning more about the specifics of Indo-European language development in the steppe region.
I found this book to be very educational, and while it wasn't entirely what I was going for, I did enjoy reading the book and learned a lot from it. My biggest issue with the text, however, is the often convoluted manner in which Harl says things. I only thought to note down one instance of it, but there were plenty where I had to reread a sentence multiple times because it didn't make sense the first time:
"In his account, idbn Fadlan was fascinated by the tall, fair-haired Rus, and so reports their methods of trade and a Viking ship burial on the banks of the Volga that was spectacularly re-created in the film 'The Thirteenth Warrior' (1970)" (p. 210)
For some, the sentence might make sense fine, but in the middle of reading I had trouble understanding what he was trying to say. A comma would have been helpful, or simply starting a new sentence about the Viking ship. And again, this is only one of many such instances throughout the book.
Overall I found this book to be interesting and educational. There are some parts that are challenging to get through, but it's definitely worth it if you're interested in the subject.
August 9, 2023
"Empires of the Steppes: A History of the Nomadic Tribes Who Shaped Civilization" by Kenneth W. Harl uncovers the overlooked yet remarkable history of Eurasian barbarian nomads. This book highlights figures like Attila, Genghis Khan, and Tamerlane, whose legacies shaped global civilization, fostering empires, Silk Road trade, and cultural exchanges across Europe, China, and the Middle East.
Professor Kenneth W. Harl expertly narrates the journey of these tenacious tribes, spanning from their origins to the early modern era. Their resilience in the face of harsh steppes conditions cultivated adaptable societies, while their prowess in warfare spanned fifteen centuries, impacting global dynamics.
"Empires of the Steppes" not only resurrects forgotten stories but also illuminates the collective impact of Huns, Mongols, Magyars, Turks, Scythians, Goths, and more on the modern world. Kenneth's engaging narrative revitalizes history, spotlighting the essential role of these nomadic civilizations in shaping the course of human progress.
Professor Kenneth W. Harl expertly narrates the journey of these tenacious tribes, spanning from their origins to the early modern era. Their resilience in the face of harsh steppes conditions cultivated adaptable societies, while their prowess in warfare spanned fifteen centuries, impacting global dynamics.
"Empires of the Steppes" not only resurrects forgotten stories but also illuminates the collective impact of Huns, Mongols, Magyars, Turks, Scythians, Goths, and more on the modern world. Kenneth's engaging narrative revitalizes history, spotlighting the essential role of these nomadic civilizations in shaping the course of human progress.
February 14, 2024
Neat book describing how barbarians changed the world. I liked the book but felt it was repetitious in many parts. The book contained no map or guide for place names. I have a good knowledge of ancient history and ancient civilizations but I often had no idea what area the author was referring to in the book. I think a series of maps for each chapter would have made it far more enjoyable and fully appreciate how big some of these nomadic empires got to.
Each chapter basically explained the history of a nomadic people and the impact that they had on the area of the world when they mobilised. The author seemed to hold these people in higher respect than how I and clearly the people at the time hold them. My generalisation is that they basically caused destruction and made whole areas wastelands with de-population. The author seems to view this is as changing civilisation often for the better.
The biggest learning for me was how powerful the Mongol and Tamberlane empires actually got. It is still mind-blowing in size.
Each chapter basically explained the history of a nomadic people and the impact that they had on the area of the world when they mobilised. The author seemed to hold these people in higher respect than how I and clearly the people at the time hold them. My generalisation is that they basically caused destruction and made whole areas wastelands with de-population. The author seems to view this is as changing civilisation often for the better.
The biggest learning for me was how powerful the Mongol and Tamberlane empires actually got. It is still mind-blowing in size.
June 30, 2024
Pretty good, but not as well written or as factually accurate as, say, Barry Cunliffe's By Steppe, Desert, and Ocean: The Birth of Eurasia.
For example, I've never heard any modern historian cite Herodotus's figures for the size of the Achaemenid Persian army sent against the Greek as if they were credible, no mention that no one thinks they're credible, and without giving modern estimates for its size. He also seems to confuse the Altai languages with the dubious and hypotethical Altaic languages.
As for the writing, this was adapted from a Great Courses/Teaching Comapy course, and it still has that feel of a lecture series as opposed to a book.
None of these issues are enough to make me say "don't bother," but there are other books I'd put ahead of this.
For example, I've never heard any modern historian cite Herodotus's figures for the size of the Achaemenid Persian army sent against the Greek as if they were credible, no mention that no one thinks they're credible, and without giving modern estimates for its size. He also seems to confuse the Altai languages with the dubious and hypotethical Altaic languages.
As for the writing, this was adapted from a Great Courses/Teaching Comapy course, and it still has that feel of a lecture series as opposed to a book.
None of these issues are enough to make me say "don't bother," but there are other books I'd put ahead of this.
July 4, 2024
Entertaining, wide-reaching, and eminently readable. As noted in the introduction, this is a narrative history and not a thematic one. It covers some 5,000 years of steppe history, so it doesn't have much time to dwell on any particular events or people - although obviously, certain standouts like the Huns and the Mongols get more room than others.
It can get a bit confusing in the middle bits where tribe after tribe of people sweep through a region and over a few pages we've lept forward dozens or hundreds of years. It can all seem a bit meaningless, especially when the same regions or cities just change hands back and forth.
One does also get a sense of the tragic as these civilizations come and go, wrought and then toppled in what feels like the work of a moment. Maybe that's always the outcome of a longue duree history. It does put our puny modern nation-states into context when you consider how many civilizations once existed that survived as long as America - and then vanished, completely unknown to almost all of us today!
It can get a bit confusing in the middle bits where tribe after tribe of people sweep through a region and over a few pages we've lept forward dozens or hundreds of years. It can all seem a bit meaningless, especially when the same regions or cities just change hands back and forth.
One does also get a sense of the tragic as these civilizations come and go, wrought and then toppled in what feels like the work of a moment. Maybe that's always the outcome of a longue duree history. It does put our puny modern nation-states into context when you consider how many civilizations once existed that survived as long as America - and then vanished, completely unknown to almost all of us today!
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