Show Notes
SEASON 3 PREMIERE
Synopsis: Despite the generally inhospitable environment, many ancient hunter-gatherers made the Northern Steppe their home. During the 6th and 5th millennia BC, their interactions with successive waves of migrating farmer-herders prompted a new cultural orientation toward the acquisition and control of large herds of cattle. Toward end of the period, the development of horse-riding enabled steppe tribes to invade the wealthy, sophisticated metalworking culture of Old Europe.
Map of the Pontic-Caspian Steppe c. 5800 BC:
https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/PCS5800.jpg
Map of the Pontic-Caspian Steppe c. 4800 BC:
https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/PCS4800.jpg
Map of the Pontic-Caspian Steppe c. 4050 BC:
https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/PCS4050.jpg
Episode Images:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/75506172@N07/albums/72177720335097086
References and Further Reading:
https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A13_References.pdf
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Synopsis: The fall of Old Europe and dissolution of the Cucuteni-Tripolye Culture left horse-riding steppe-herders the unchallenged paradigm on the Pontic-Caspian steppe. The introduction of the wagon around 3500 BC enabled their adoption of a fully-nomadic lifestyle, culminating with the complete dominance of the Proto-Indo-European-speaking Yamnaya horizon.