Bronze Age Steppe Route

hunting scene, bronze age (kasakhstan)

advanced craftsmanship such metal-smelting , pottery production (painted vessels , terracotta sculpture) found side side large areas covered wasters production of ornaments made of semi precious stones : lapis-lazulis, turquoise, spinel, quartz. economic prosperity led exceptional richness of artistic expression found in smaller forms, particularly in painted ceramics, small carved objects, ornaments inspired wildlife, , funerary gifts. conducive more complex organization of society.

the trades on steppe routes show east asian silk did not come china. neolithic remains (4000-3000 bce) of goguryeo kingdom (korea) showed earthenware silkworm , mulberry leaf patterns , small carvings in rock of silkworms. records of 3 kingdoms noted both confederacies of byeonhan , jinhan (later known silla , gaya kingdoms in korea), “had many mulberry trees , silkworms”, indicating silk produced on korean peninsula known in other countries ancient times. in late 3rd millennium bce, military-oriented stockbreeding communities settled in eastern central asia (sayan-altai, mongolia). nephrite (jade) road materialized, minerals quarried in khotan , yarkand , sold china. models of carts found @ altyn-depe – key chalcolithic , bronze age settlement in turkmenistan, dating late 4th – 3rd millennia bec, earliest known evidence of wheeled transport in region. two-wheeled carts shafts apparently linked yoke provide information on type , construction of carts used agriculturalists of middle east. result, communities more mobile on steppe route , period characterized 2 migration waves moving in opposite directions. steppe semi-nomads associated abashevo-sintashta , later srubnaya-andronovo societies moved eastern europe altai region , further east xinjiang. warring seima-turbino groups migrated central asia towards urals mountains , further west eastern europe settlements.

the end of bronze age on eurasian steppe route shows production , new economic organisation led accumulation of riches number of families , new economic interactions. male leaders became warlords clashing , striking alliances control of best pastures or migrating start may become civilizations.