Nomads and Empires
Episodes
26 episodes
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.
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.
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.
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.
Episode 5: The Prehistoric Steppe
We explore the prehistoric Eurasian steppe and assess the changes emerging after the global Ice Age.
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.
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.
Episode 8: Kimmerians: Through the Caucasus
We finally start the narrative and introduce our first named historical group: the Kimmerians.
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.
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.
Episode 11: Kimmerians: The Beginning of the End
We chart the Kimmerians as they launched attacks against the Kingdom of Lydia, placing us closer to the eventual end of the Kimmerians.
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.
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 brin...
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/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack: https://nomadsandempirespo...
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/NomadEmpires...
Episode 15: Scythians: Warfare
We look into the weapons, armor, and tactics of Scythian warfare. Twitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/
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/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/
Episode 17: Scythians: Religion
We examine the religious beliefs of the Scythians, as well as thoughts of the afterlife.Twitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack: https://nomadsandempirespodcast.substack.com/
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/NomadsandEmpiresTwitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack: h...
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/NomadsandEmpiresTwitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack: https://nomadsandempirespodc...
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/NomadsandEmpiresTwitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack: https://nomadsandem...
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/NomadsandEmpiresTwitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpiresPodSubstack: https...
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/NomadsandEmpiresTwitter: https://twitter.com/NomadEmpires...
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.