The Scythian Empire

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A rich, discovery-filled history reveals how a forgotten empire transformed the ancient world. In the late 8th and early 7th centuries BCE, Scythian warriors conquered and unified much of the vast Eurasian continent, creating an innovative empire that sparked the age of philosophy and the Classical age across the ancient world, influencing the West, the Near East, India, and China. These mobile horse herders, who lived in wheeled felt tents alongside their cats, made significant contributions to world civilization, including the establishment of capital cities, elegant dress, political organization, and the transformative ideas of Buddha, Zoroaster, and Laotzu—all influenced by Scythian culture. At its peak, the empire extended from Mongolia and ancient northeast China to northwest Iran and the Danube River, reaching as far south as the Arabian Sea in Central Asia. The Scythians ruled over Media and Chao, crucial frontier states of ancient Iran and China. By intermarrying with local populations, they fostered new cultures characterized by a blend of Scythian speech, dress, weaponry, and feudal socio-political structures. As they spread their language, ideas, and culture, the Scythians laid the groundwork for the earliest Persian, Indian, and Chinese empires. Filled with fresh discoveries, this account presents a remarkable vision of a little-known yet incredibly significant empire and its peoples.