070183 UE Historical Sources, Qualitative and Quantitative Methods (2026S)

The course provides a methodological introduction and a comprehensive overview of the primary sources - both textual and material - available for reconstructing the history of the Eurasian steppe and its peoples from the Early Middle Ages to the Modern era.
Sources are selected to provide a multifaceted understanding of steppe history through two distinct lenses: etic representations (observations by authors from sedentary societies) and emic self-reflections (such as inscriptions and coinage issued by nomadic polities). The curriculum highlights the strategies and legacies of intercultural interaction, with a specific focus on ethnographic discourse, diplomatic practices, epigraphic traditions, and geographical 'imaginations.' Furthermore, it explores economic dynamics, material culture, and funerary customs.
Each week, students will analyze a specific primary source to investigate how these documents reflected and helped shape the reciprocal cultural imagery of steppe nomads across both Eastern and Western Eurasia.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
Acquire a solid command of the essential chronology, historical geography, and pivotal events necessary to understand the history of the Eurasian steppe.
Develop the methodological tools to contextualize and critically analyze primary sources, distinguishing between external (etic) observations and internal (emic) expressions.
Demonstrate the ability to produce academic writing and engage in critical discourse regarding the selected readings and scholarly debates.