The Ancients The White Huns
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Aug 17, 2025 Join Professor Hyun Jin Kim, a history expert from Melbourne, as he unravels the fascinating tale of the White Huns, a powerful empire that thrived in Central Asia. Discover how they dominated trade routes and overthrew kingdoms, influencing politics, warfare, and culture from Persia to India. Hear about their sophisticated military strategies and governance, as well as their significant yet often overlooked legacy in shaping regional identities amidst rising powers. This exploration reveals the complex interplay of history that has shaped our world.
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Color Names Indicate Directional Politics
- 'White Hun' denotes a cardinal-directional Western division, not skin color.
- Hunnic factions used colors (white, black, blue, red) to organise imperial structure.
Our Sources Are Chinese Records And Coins
- Key sources for White Hun history are mainly Chinese dynastic histories and regional coinage.
- Inscriptions and coins in Sogdian, Bactrian, Middle Persian and Brahmi reveal their multi-lingual administration.
Kidarites Claimed Kushan Legitimacy
- The Kidarites (Kidar) were early Western Huns who seized Sogdia and Bactria in the 4th century.
- They adopted Kushan titles and local identities to legitimize rule over former Kushan territories.
