1200: Srubna culture disappears; Scythians and Cimmerians appear | 1200: Tumulus culture disappear, Celts, Veneti, Italics, Illyrians and Slavs appear | 1200: Sabean Kingdom appears | 1200: Kuru appears | 1200: Painted Grey Ware culture appears | 1200: Diauehi appears | 1200: Edom founded | 1200: Black and Red ware culture appears - Scroll Down for more details

The Vanishing of the Srubna Culture and the Rise of the Scythians and Cimmerians (1200 BCE)

The Decline of the Srubna Culture

Around 1200 BCE, the Srubna culture (also known as the Timber-Grave culture), which had flourished in the Pontic-Caspian steppe (modern-day Ukraine and southern Russia) since the late Bronze Age (circa 18th-12th centuries BCE), began to disappear. This culture was known for its distinctive burial practices—timber-framed graves (hence the name Srubna, meaning "timber grave" in Russian)—and its semi-nomadic pastoralist lifestyle.

The reasons for its decline are still debated, but several factors likely contributed:
- Climate change: Shifts toward drier conditions may have disrupted pastoral economies.
- Migrations and invasions: Pressure from incoming nomadic groups, possibly early Indo-Iranian tribes, could have displaced or absorbed the Srubna people.
- Cultural transformation: The Srubna may have evolved into or been replaced by new emerging cultures, such as the early Cimmerians.

The Emergence of the Cimmerians and Scythians

As the Srubna culture faded, two powerful nomadic groups rose to prominence in the Eurasian steppes: the Cimmerians and the Scythians.

The Cimmerians

• Likely descended from or were influenced by the remnants of the Srubna culture.
  
• Dominated the western steppes (modern Ukraine and Crimea) before being pushed out by the Scythians.
  
• Known from Assyrian and Greek records as fierce warriors who clashed with Near Eastern empires (Urartu, Assyria) and later migrated into Anatolia.

The Scythians

• A nomadic Iranian-speaking people who emerged in the eastern steppes (Central Asia).
  
• By the 8th-7th centuries BCE, they expanded westward, displacing the Cimmerians and establishing dominance over the Pontic steppe.
  
• Became famous for their horseback warfare, intricate gold artwork, and interactions with the Greeks, Persians, and other civilizations.

Legacy of the Transition

The disappearance of the Srubna culture and the rise of the Cimmerians and Scythians marked a major shift in Eurasian history:
- The Cimmerians were eventually absorbed or defeated by the Scythians and Assyrians.
- The Scythians became a dominant force, influencing trade and warfare across Eurasia for centuries.
- This period set the stage for later nomadic empires, including the Sarmatians and, eventually, the Huns and Mongols.

Conclusion

The 12th century BCE was a time of great upheaval in the Eurasian steppes, as old cultures faded and new warrior nomads emerged. The disappearance of the Srubna culture and the rise of the Cimmerians and Scythians reshaped the political and cultural landscape of the ancient world, leaving a legacy that would echo through history.

Would you like more details on any specific aspect of this transition?