Chinese Strategy Against the Northern Steppe, c.600BC-90AD

How did Chinese states get down to business to defeat the Huns (Mulan reference)? This video aims to introduce viewers to a formative period in Chinese strategymaking - the initial phase of China's long relationship with steppe nomads, culminating in the 300-year long contest between Han China and the Xiongnu Empire.

SCRIPT: https://strategosstuff.blogspot.com/2...

Chinese names are given in Modern Chinese/Mandarin pinyin. Forgive the Mandarin pronunciation.

All errors are my own. Sorry for the bad sound quality.

▬ CHAPTERS ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
0:00 - Introduction
0:28 - Geography
1:16 - [I] Eastern Zhou (c.600BC to 400BC): Dealing with Semi-Settled Peoples
4:40 - [II] Warring States and Qin (400BC to 200BC): First Contact with Nomads
7:52 - [III] Early Western Han (200BC to 130BC): The Heqin Strategy
14:03 - [IV] Mid Western Han (140BC – 80BC): Offense Under Emperor Wu
19:31 - [V] Late Western and Eastern Han (80BC – 90AD): Failing to Structure a Peace
22:47 - Conclusion

▬ SOURCES ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
di Cosmo N. Ancient China and its Enemies. Cambridge University Press 2004.
di Cosmo N (ed.). Military Culture in Imperial China. Harvard University Press 2011.
Lewis M. The Early Chinese Empires. Belknap Press 2010.

Kuan Y. Zhanguoshi [Warring States History]. Taiwan Commercial Press 2001.
Luttwak E. The Rise of China vs. the Logic of Strategy. Belknap Press 2012.

▬ ATTRIBUTIONS ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Google Maps.
Wikipedia (Basic facts)

Made using Powerpoint 2013.