The Impact of the Huns: From the Steppe to the Collapse of the Roman Empire

This chapter explores the arrival of the Huns into Europe and how it influenced the events leading to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. It discusses the similarities between the Huns and the original Indo-Europeans, both being nomadic peoples with a skill for horseback riding and raiding. The chapter also highlights the significance of a small technological innovation, the stirrup, which the Huns had mastered and used in warfare, ultimately contributing to the collapse of the Roman Empire and the subsequent expansion of Germanic tribes into the region.