Great Steppe

Location of the Central Coian Steppe in Coius

The Central Coian Steppe, also called the High Plains and the steppes, is a complex of temperate to semi-arid grassland, shrub-land, and chaparral. It extends from the Amardian coast of the Mazdan Sea to the banks of the Batarak River in Cavunia. Zorasan, Kumuso, Phula, Kituk, and Ajahadya all have territory on the steppes.

It has been inhabited historically by the Duljunese, Yanogu, Oroqic, and Kituki peoples, who helped develop trade across the continent by connecting Southern Coius and Satria with Badawiya and Bahia.

History

The Old Oroqic word translated as "confederacy" is kelekoltoi and means literally "to speak by the lake". This refers to meeting places that many tribes would share around winter pastures, which were often lakes. The kelekoltoi was almost never a formal government and confederacy, in the context of the steppes, almost always means a social order based on mutual recognition and shared resources. This contrasts with the khagan, which is a particular ruler of a particular people, although Khagans and kelekoltoi often coexisted.

Oghuz Confederacy

The Oghuz Confederacy was a union of several Oroqic tribes that controlled Qizsho, Mirghazab, and Togot from the 6th to 4th century BCE. This was the first and kelekoltoi and occupies a semi-legendary status within steppe society. Records describing the Oghuz are mostly from their neighbors, especially the burgeoning Phuli Empire, which would eventually absorb the Oghuz society.

Oghuz communities were characterized by a diarchy with a leader for both the men and the women of the tribe. The male leader was responsible for the organization of the tribe when moving, had authority over the herds, and control of trades with other tribes. The female leader was responsible for the construction and maintenance of shelters and was also responsible advocating for women during their marriage negotiations. Both were typically older, experienced members of the tribe and were each responsible for selecting the other's successor upon their death. When both died at the same time, the tribe was considered dead and new tribe had to be formed.

The diarchy was the basis of the confederacy--the mutual recognition of other tribes--because the women could organize the construction of the great lakeside camps even when the male leaders were engaged in bitter rivalries over water access and grazing rights.

Phuli Empire

The Phuli Empire occupied the steppes from the 4th century BCE to the turn of the millennium.

Uluuchig Confederacy

The Uluuchigs were the most prominent steppe society from the turn of the millennium until he 6th century CE. Their principal rivals were the Sangama of Satria.

Kituki Khaganate

Main article: First Kituki Khaganate

The Kituki Khaganate was a short-lived, highly centralized state that emerged during the decline of the Uluuchigs.

Korshid Confederacy

The Korshids emerged in the 12th century during the decline of the Sangama Dynasty in Satria and maintained control of the steppes until the start of the 16th century. They were rivals with the Zorsani Gorsanid Empire and the Norzin Empire in Tava.

Togoti Khaganate

The Togoti Khaganate rose in the 15th century and greatly expanded in the 16th century, ultimately entering decline in the 17th century. It has been called a Gunpower Empire.

Colonial Period

During the colonial period, the steppes were largely considered a waste since they were amenable to industrial agriculture and its inhabitants often caused trouble crossing new borders.

Pardals

The Pardals were a brief, but potent political force on the steppes in the 1940s.

Society

Culture

Transhumance

One of the most enduring qualities of steppe society is transhumance, or the movement between summer and winter pasturing sites for herds. It is a common misconception that all people on the steppes practice this kind of nomadism, but it has been an integral element of every steppe empire.