La Caucasia e i nomadi delle steppe euroasiatiche. L’epoca delle popolazioni iraniche, dagli sciti ai sarmati

Abstract

Caucasia is an exceptional region, distinguished by two majestic mountain ranges nestled between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. Its distinctiveness lies in its role as a meeting point between diverse cultural horizons, such as the nomadic peoples of the Eurasian steppes, the sedentary civilizations of the Near and Middle East, and the Mediterranean world connected through its expansive Black Sea coastline. Throughout the 1st millennium BC, a unique relationship developed between sedentary and pastoral cultures. The ancient communities of Caucasia found themselves in close proximity to nomadic populations from the steppes and plateaus of Siberia and Central Asia, as well as settlers and merchants from Greece. Additionally, the Achaemenid Empire from the Iranian Plateau brought with it new influences and expansionist aims. This convergence of diverse groups led to remarkable interactions in the realms of economics, culture, and the arts. The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the exchanges between nomadic communities and sedentary societies, with a specific focus on the Iranian populations during the period spanning from the 8th century BC to the 4th-5th century AD. This era marks the definitive replacement of the Iranian and Indo-European groups in the steppes by the Hunnic and later Turkic populations.