The medieval warm period grew lush grass on the Russian steppes for several generations, raising a horde of warriors, feeding their horses, and allowing them to conquer vast territories.
Shortly after the medieval warm period went away, the Mongol empire went away.
There is a lesson in there. I learned a similar lesson in Microbiology growing bacteria. The various cultures on one plate compete for resources and the best at it take over. They don’t “live with the competition” (diversity) they annihilate the competition.
***The medieval warm period grew lush grass on the Russian steppes for several generations, raising a horde of warriors, feeding their horses, and allowing them to conquer vast territories. ***
Much like the High Plains in the 1860s when settlers lived in peace during the winter as the Indian tribes were all hunkered down in camps for the winter.
But they knew the raids would begin again “as soon as the grass was tall enough to support a war pony”.
Been reading about genetics and early migration and the people from Russian steps comes up at lot.
The internet says my German surname was originally from the Russian steps.
But when I search my Ukrainian Grandfather’s surname they are all Mongolians!