II. Ancient and Classical Periods, 3500 B.C.E.–500 C.E. > A. Global and Comparative Dimensions > 3. Classical Civilizations, 300 B.C.E.–500 C.E. > e. Expansion of the Ecumene > 2. Central Eurasia

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The Encyclopedia of World History.  2001.

2. Central Eurasia
Central Eurasia witnessed the development of strong herding societies all along the northern regions of the ecumene. The migrations of these peoples and their invasions of the urban societies are a major theme in the history of classical civilizations.	1
5th Century B.C.E.–5th Century C.E
XIONGNU AND HUNS developed as strong herding societies in the central Asian borderlands of China. Maodun (ruled 209–174 B.C.E.) created a large confederation which threatened the Han dynasty and opened central Eurasia to increasing commercial and military interactions. The confederation disintegrated by the 1st century C.E., but the HUN descendants of the Xiongnu affected all the civilizations of the ecumene. In the 5th century C.E. they gained control of much of eastern Europe under the leadership of ATTILA (d. 453), and Hun invaders were a major cause of the collapse of the Gupta Empire in India.	2

The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth edition. Peter N. Stearns, general editor. Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Maps by Mary Reilly, copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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