Scythians
Sign in to saveThe Scythians ( or ) or Scyths (), also known as the Pontic Scythians, were an ancient Eastern Iranic equestrian nomadic people who migrated during the 9th to 8th centuries BC from Central Asia to the Pontic Steppe in modern-day Ukraine and Southern Russia, where they remained until the 3rd century BC.
AI overview
The Scythians were an ancient nomadic people of Iranian origin who migrated from Central Asia to the steppes of what is now Ukraine and Southern Russia around the 9th to 8th centuries BC, and they maintained a presence there for over 500 years. They matter to history because they were skilled horsemen whose migrations and way of life shaped the cultural and political landscape of the ancient Eurasian steppes during a significant period.
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Key facts
- Former country.conventional_long_name
- Scythians
- Former country.image_map
- Scythian Kingdom in West Asia.jpg
- Former country.map_width
- 250px
- Former country.image_map_size
- 450px
- Former country.map_caption
- The maximum extent of the Scythian kingdom in West Asia and surrounding areas
- Former country.image_map2
- Scythian kingdom in the Pontic steppe.jpg
- Former country.map2_width
- 250px
- Former country.image_map2_size
- 450px
- Former country.loctext
- Central Asia (9th-7th centuries BC) West Asia Pontic Steppe
- Former country.map_caption2
- The maximum extent of the Scythian kingdom in the Pontic steppe
- Former country.capital
- Kamianka ( - )
Article
65 sectionsContents
- Names
- Etymology
- Modern terminology
- Scythians proper
- Broader designations
- Saka
- Cimmerians
- History
- Proto-Scythian period
- Migration out of Central Asia
- Displacement of the Cimmerians
- Early period
- Ciscaucasian kingdom
- West Asia
- Initial activities in West Asia
- West Asian influences on the Scythians
- Reign of Madyes
- Decline in West Asia
- Initial Greek interactions
- Pontic Steppe
- Campaigns from the Pontic Steppe
- Foreign pressures
- Persian invasion
- Middle (or Classical) period
- Expansionism
- Commercial activities
- Greek influence
- Early sedentarisation
- Instabilities
- Golden Age
- The reign of Ateas
- Decline and fall of Pontic Scythia
- Late period
- End
- Legacy
- Antiquity
- Mediaeval period
- Modern period
- Culture and society
- Language
- Social organisation
- Administrative structure
- Economy
- Pastoralism and agriculture
- Metalworking
- Trade
- Lifestyle
- Nomads and pastoralists
- Diet
- Clothing and medicine
- Art
- Religion
- Warfare
- Strategy and tactics
- Archery
- Other weapons and armour
- Physical appearance
- Archaeology
- Genetics
- List of rulers
- Kings of Early Scythians
- Kings of Pontic Scythians
- See also
- References
- Sources
The Scythians ( or ) or Scyths (), also known as the Pontic Scythians, were an ancient Eastern Iranic equestrian nomadic people who migrated during the 9th to 8th centuries BC from Central Asia to the Pontic Steppe in modern-day Ukraine and Southern Russia, where they remained until the 3rd century BC.
Skilled in mounted warfare, the Scythians displaced the Agathyrsi and the Cimmerians as the dominant power on the western Eurasian Steppe in the 8th century BC. In the 7th century BC, the Scythians crossed the Caucasus Mountains and often raided West Asia along with the Cimmerians.