Ancient nomads of the Eurasian and North American grasslands
By: Elena Ponomarenko and Ian Dyck ; with contributions by Anna Kochkina ... [et al.].
Contributors: Kochkina, Anna.; Canadian Museum of Civilization.; Samarskiĭ oblastnoĭ istoriko-kraevedcheskiĭ muzeĭ im. P.V. Alabina.
Publisher: Canadian Museum of Civilization
Published: 2007
Place of publication: [Gatineau, Québec]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 168
ISBN-13: 9780660197715
Subjects: Nomads -- Eurasia -- Social life and customs -- Exhibitions; Nomads -- Prairie Provinces -- Social life and customs -- Exhibitions; Grassland people -- Russia (Federation) -- History -- Exhibitions; Grassland people -- Prairie Provinces -- History -- Exhibitions; Grassland people -- Eurasia -- History -- Exhibitions; Indians of North America -- Prairie Provinces -- Antiquities -- Exhibitions; Nomades -- Eurasie -- Moeurs et coutumes -- Expositions; Nomades -- Provinces des Prairies -- Moeurs et coutumes -- Expositions; Habitants des prairies -- Provinces des Prairies -- Histoire -- Expositions; Habitants des prairies -- Eurasie -- Histoire -- Expositions; Habitants des prairies -- Russie -- Histoire -- Expositions; Indiens d'Amérique -- Provinces des Prairies -- Antiquités -- Expositions; Russia (Federation) -- Antiquities -- Exhibitions; Prairie Provinces -- Antiquities -- Exhibitions; Eurasia -- Antiquities -- Exhibitions; Russie -- Antiquités -- Expositions; Provinces des prairies -- Antiquités -- Expositions; Eurasie -- Antiquités -- Expositions
Genres: Exhibitions; Expositions
Description: "Nomadic lifestyles dependent on herd animals developed independently on the grasslands of Eurasia and North America about 5,000 years ago. The landscapes that these peoples occupied were generally similar, but the basis of their nomadism was quite different. Eurasian steppe nomads relied on domestic sheep, goats, cattle and horses for their subsistence and on horses, cattle and, to a limited extent, camels for their travel; North American prairie nomads relied on wild bison for subsistence and on themselves and dogs for travel. In comparing the two lifestyles, this study shows that certain features, such as the use of circular portable dwellings, seasonal rhythms of movement and minimalist material cultures, were quite similar; but other features, such as the use of metals, access to urban civilizations, the nature and scale of warfare and overall population sizes, were very different. Yet, both kinds of nomadism dominated their respective landscapes until being supplanted by European or EuroAmerican expansionism between about 300 to 150 years ago."--Jacket.
Notes: Issued also in French under title: Les anciens nomads des steppes de l'Eurasie et des plaines de l'Amérique du Nord.

Issued also in Russian under title: Drevnie kochevniki stepeĭ Evrazii i Severnoĭ Ameriki.

"Published by the Samara Museum of History and Regional Studies, Russia, with participation of the Canadian Museum of Civilization"--T.p. verso.

"This book is a companion piece for an exhibition entitled "Masters of the Plains: Ancient Nomads of Russia and Canada". Both book and exhibition are products of a comparative project, undertaken by the Canadian Museum of Civilization (Canada) and the Samara Museum of History and Regional Studies (Russia)"--Introd.

Includes bibliographical references: p. 163-164.