Questions about steppe peoples and Kypchaks in particular

[Maltacus]

I have a few things I wonder about concerning the northwestern part of the BC map and its inhabitants. Starting with these.

1. Javelins among the Kypchaks. Who wielded them and where and why? Were they widespread or can they be centred on some sub-group or region?

2. What are the pechenegs up to in 1174, are they totally assimilated into other factions or are there any distinct pecheneg tribes/small "states"?

3. Who lives north of the west half of the map? Rus principalities all the way or somebody else?

[zburanuki]

2) pechenegs, cumans are other names for the kypchaks. in the russian texts they named as polovchi. so they are basically the same people.

3) if i'm not mistaken west of the kypchaks there are the kievan rus, novgorod, poland and in modern romania we have again pechennegs.

[k/t]

Some Cumans too.

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=414281

[lekseus]

Maltacus, have alook over here: who and were situated http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...-Of-The-Steppe

[Ichon]

Maltacus, have alook over here: who and were situated http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...-Of-The-Steppe

That is over century different timeline.

Pechenegs and Cumans are both tribal confederations and so included different types of people. Many Cumans were reportedly light haired and fair skinned but not all. Also intermarriage with bordering populations either resulting from raids or diplomatic reasons was common.

Pecheneg confederation was defeated by Cumans and ERE and pushed into Hungary or resettled by ERE in some different areas of Anatolia and Balkans. Cumans warred with Rus and also had many shifting alliances between various princes. Overall though Cumans constrained Rus settlement and constant raids pushed center of Rus power further north to Suzdal until arrival of Mongols who broke Cuman confederation where many fled to Hungary and other places or were absorbed into Mongol tribes which was also a tribal confederation though with more strict rules and hierarchy than most previous tribal confederations.

Javelins were used to some extent by all steppe peoples as lances were common in melee combat or hunting and being able to throw a lance or small javelin could be important. However most preferred using bows in war outside of perhaps some Alans or more hill peoples in Caucuses/Anatolia/Persia where the terrain made long range archery less important and abrupt short clashes at low range made dropping bow to pick up melee weapon less practical though bows were still used as well.

[k/t]

You mean more practical?