Barbarians at the Wall

The First Nomadic Empire and the Making of China

John Man

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English

Corgi
17 March 2020

History; Asian history; Ancient history: to c 500 CE

The untold story of the first nomadic empire and the making of China.

'Man does for the reader that most difficult of tasks- he conjures up an ancient people in an alien landscape in such a way as to make them live.' - Guardian

The people of the first nomadic empire left no written records, but from 200 BC they dominated the heart of Asia for 400 years. They changed the world. The Mongols, today's descendants of Genghis Khan, see them as ancestors. Their rise cemented Chinese unity and inspired the first Great Wall. Their heirs under Attila the Hun helped destroy the Roman Empire.

We don't know what language they spoke, but they became known as Xiongnu, or Hunnu, a term passed down the centuries and across Eurasia, enduring today in shortened form as 'Hun'. Outside Asia precious little is known of their rich history, but new evidence reframes our understanding of the indelible mark they left on a vast region stretching from Europe and sweeping right across Central Asia deep into China.

Based on meticulous research and new archaeological evidence, Barbarians at the Wall traces their epic story, and shows how the nomadic cultures of the steppes gave birth to a 'barbarian empire' with the wealth and power to threaten the civilised order of the ancient world.

By: John Man
Imprint: Corgi
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 127mm, Spine: 21mm
Weight: 242g
ISBN: 9780552174916
ISBN 10: 0552174912
Pages: 328
Publication Date: 17 March 2020
Audience: General/trade , College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , ELT Advanced , Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

John Man is a historian with a special interest in Asia and the nature of leadership. His books, published in over twenty languages, include bestselling biographies of Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan and Attila the Hun, as well as histories of the Great Wall of China, the Mongol Empire and the Amazons.

Reviews for Barbarians at the Wall: The First Nomadic Empire and the Making of China

Man does for the reader that most difficult of tasks: he conjures up an ancient people in an alien landscape in such a way as to make them live. * Guardian * His ability to put us in the picture, to feel, smell and almost touch the surroundings he describes, is matched by his ability to tell a good story. * Michael Palin *