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Multiethnic Empire

All articles tagged with #multiethnic empire

science-and-history2 years ago•3 min saved

Uncovering the Secrets of China's Great Wall through Ancient DNA.

Ancient DNA evidence from two cemeteries in Mongolia sheds light on the Xiongnu empire, a multiethnic, multicultural, and multilingual empire that dominated the Asian steppes for three centuries from 200 BC. The genetic diversity found within individual communities suggests that the empire wasn't just a patchwork of homogenous groups united by a common cause. The graves of elite women contained the most prestigious items, indicating their powerful role in Xiongnu society. The Xiongnu left a powerful legacy that inspired later nomadic regimes such as the Mongols and Genghis Khan.

via CNN|

#ancient-dna #elite-women #great-wall

archaeology2 years ago•6 min saved

Uncovering the Diversity of Mongolia's First Nomadic Empire through Ancient DNA

New ancient DNA evidence and archaeological excavations shed light on the Xiongnu, the world's first nomadic empire that arose on the Mongolian steppe 1,500 years before the Mongols. The Xiongnu empire was a multiethnic empire, with high genetic diversity and heterogeneity present at all levels, confirming the characterization of the Xiongnu Empire as a multiethnic empire. Women played especially prominent political roles in the expansion and integration of new territories along the empire's frontier. The findings point to the enduring social and cultural legacy of the Xiongnu.

via Phys.org|

#ancient-dna #archaeology #mongolia