Horse Power: Interactions between China, Mongolia and the steppe 2000-0 BCE

Introduction

Horse Power will examine the complex interactions between the eastern steppe and China from the second millennium BCE to the formation of the Xiongnu empire in Mongolia and the Qin state in China after 300 BCE.

Historical Context

From the second millennium BCE, two great worlds formed, traded, and fought across Eurasia. From Mongolia to the European steppe, great horse and herding cultures coalesced across thousands of kilometres of grassland.

To the south, a string of states existed from Egypt to the Chinese Central Plains, some already ancient and others newly created. Interaction between these worlds was constant and profoundly formative for all parties, a fact we are only starting to fully appreciate.

Methodology

To examine the connections between the steppe, Mongolia, and China's Central Plains, we will combine the latest scientific techniques in genetics and metallurgical analysis with theory concerning politics and power within and between China and its northern neighbours.

Three principal empirical elements underpin the project:

1. Ancient DNA from horses.
2. The characterization of bronzes to throw light on their movement and recycling.
3. The structure and contents of archaeological sites (mainly graves) in China, Mongolia, and the steppe.

Theoretical Framework

We will develop theory on the nature of leadership and power, particularly in mobile societies. Science will meet social science in a mutually informative manner, and we will work across linguistic boundaries (Chinese, Mongolian, Russian, English) in a spirit of the co-production of knowledge with important partners, including The Emperor Qin Shihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum in China and Mongolian universities.

Public Engagement

We will reflect on our working practices, engaging a broader public in how a complex research project works. An innovative artistic programme will engage a range of local communities, horse enthusiasts, and local artists in the work and results of the project.

Conclusion

Working together, we will create a picture of this complex region that would be impossible if we had worked alone.