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Nomads and Empires
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Nomads and Empires

Episode 1Episode 1: The Eternal Blue SkyNovember 2, 2021 · 22 min
Episodes
26
Format
Series – listen from the start
Latest episode
Apr 1, 2024

About the podcast

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

Episodes 26

  1. Episode 25: The Öltenic of Godherja

    54 minSeason 1 · Episode 27

    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 …

  2. Episode 24: Scythians: Tomyris and Cyrus

    40 minSeason 1 · Episode 26

    On this episode, we explore the titanic clash between Cyrus of the Persians and Tomyris of the Massagetae. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NomadsandEmpiresTwitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack …

  3. Episode 23: The Modern Pontic Steppe

    41 minSeason 1 · Episode 25

    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 …

    Show notes

    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:

  4. Episode 22: Scythians: Endings and Beginnings

    32 minSeason 1 · Episode 24

    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/NomadsandEmpiresTwitter …

  5. Episode 21: Scythians: Masters of Asia

    41 minSeason 1 · Episode 23

    We investigate the supposed Scythian "28-year reign" of the Near East, including their conquests of Media and Palestine.Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NomadsandEmpiresTwitter …

    Show notes

    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 Exchange between the Graeco-Roman World, Inner Asia and China
    • John Boardman, et al., The Cambridge Ancient History, Volume 3, Part 2: The Assyrian and Babylonian Empires and Other States of the Near East, from the Eighth to the Sixth Centuries BC, 2nd edition
  6. Episode 20: Scythians: Back to the Caucasus

    30 minSeason 1 · Episode 22

    The Scythians move through the north and south Caucasus, pushing to the borders of the ancient Near East. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NomadsandEmpiresTwitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack …

  7. Episode 19: Scythians: Legendary and Humble Beginnings

    35 minSeason 1 · Episode 20

    We continue the narrative by assessing the mythological and historical origins of the Scythians. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NomadsandEmpiresTwitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack …

  8. Episode 18: Scythians: Arts

    22 minSeason 1 · Episode 19

    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/NomadsandEmpiresTwitter …

  9. Episode 17: Scythians: Religion

    34 minSeason 1 · Episode 18

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

  10. Episode 16: Rhûn: The Wainriders and Balchoth

    30 minSeason 1 · Episode 17

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

  11. Episode 15: Scythians: Warfare

    29 minSeason 1 · Episode 16

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

  12. Episode 14: Scythians: The Scythian World

    23 minSeason 1 · Episode 15

    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 …

  13. Episode 13: Scythians: An Introduction

    21 minSeason 1 · Episode 14

    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/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack …

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

    27 minSeason 1 · Episode 13Bonus

    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 …

  15. Episode 12: Kimmerians: Sundered and Scattered

    33 minSeason 1 · Episode 12

    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.

  16. Episode 11: Kimmerians: The Beginning of the End

    32 minSeason 1 · Episode 11

    We chart the Kimmerians as they launched attacks against the Kingdom of Lydia, placing us closer to the eventual end of the Kimmerians.

  17. Episode 10: Kimmerians: To Phrygia and Beyond

    35 minSeason 1 · Episode 10

    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.

  18. Episode 9: Kimmerians: The Ancient Near Eastern Cold War

    43 minSeason 1 · Episode 9

    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 …

  19. Episode 8: Kimmerians: Through the Caucasus

    34 minSeason 1 · Episode 8

    We finally start the narrative and introduce our first named historical group: the Kimmerians.

  20. Episode 7: The Khan of Arzhan 1

    36 minSeason 1 · Episode 7

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

  21. Episode 6: The Indo-European Migrations

    39 minSeason 1 · Episode 6

    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.

  22. Episode 5: The Prehistoric Steppe

    32 minSeason 1 · Episode 5

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

  23. Episode 4: The Historiographical Context

    22 minSeason 1 · Episode 4

    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.

  24. Episode 3: The Western and Central Steppes

    50 minSeason 1 · Episode 3

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

  25. Episode 2: The Eastern Steppe

    36 minSeason 1 · Episode 2

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

  26. Episode 1: The Eternal Blue Sky

    22 minSeason 1 · Episode 1

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

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