An epic history of how the so-called ''barbarians of the steppes'' shaped the modern world. -A rollercoaster of historical narration- History Today''This is a history of epic scope that brings together the empires of the steppe land with the caravan cities of the Silk Road and imperial China'' Martyn Rady, author of The Middle Kingdoms''A sweeping account of forty-five centuries of nomadic tribes'' Gillian Tett, Financial Times''Flips the script to present the booted, felt-capped, leather-trousered and kaftan-wearing nomads as the bearers of civilisation . . . Harl''s exhaustively researched book will ensure they rejoin the narrative of world history'' Marc David Baer, GuardianThe barbarian nomads of the Eurasian steppes played a decisive role in world history, but their achievements have gone largely unnoticed. These tribes produced some of the world-s greatest conquerors: Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan and Tamerlane, among