The Resource Library
A curated collection of educational links shared by our community — history, technique, bows, and the cultures that shaped them.
Horseback Archery
A Modern Day Warrior: Mastering Mounted Archery
Great Big Story follows a modern practitioner pursuing the ancient skill of mounted archery — a close look at what it takes to shoot accurately from horseback today.
Watch
Scythian Mounted Archery
A demonstration of Scythian-style mounted archery using a no-stirrups Scythian saddle — with the notable technique of pulling arrows with the bow hand.
WatchYabusame — Tim Ferriss
Tim Ferriss attempts to learn yabusame — Japanese horseback archery — on an accelerated timeline, documenting the training and the discipline required to shoot accurately from a galloping horse.
Watch
Jereed — Ancient Turkish Sport Horseback Javelin
A look at jereed — the ancient Turkish equestrian sport of horseback javelin sparring — a living tradition that gives direct insight into the horsemanship culture behind Asiatic mounted archery.
Watch
In the Saddle, On Horseback — Art of War of the Conquest-Era Magyars
A detailed documentary on the military tactics and equipment of the Hungarian conquest-era Magyars — master horse archers whose raids into Western Europe shook the Carolingian world.
Watch
The Nomadic Military Advantage
Why were nomads so difficult to fight? This video explores the structural, logistical, and tactical advantages that allowed steppe horse-archers to consistently defeat much larger settled armies.
Watch
True Size of a Byzantine Army c. 900 AD
A 3D documentary on Byzantine military organisation — covering how they integrated horse archers using Asiatic composite bows, essential for understanding how the Roman tradition absorbed steppe archery.
Watch
Horseback Archery with Emil and Barona
A stunning horseback archery session featuring Emil and his horse Barona — high-speed shooting with remarkable accuracy. A great watch for anyone drawn to the athleticism and partnership required in mounted archery.
Watch
Horseback Archery — Mongolia
A short film capturing Mongolian horseback archery in its home environment — raw speed, traditional equipment, and a style of mounted shooting that has been practiced on the steppe for thousands of years.
Watch
Trained Like a Mongolian Warrior for 5 Days
National Geographic's Superskilled series follows a journalist immersed in Mongolian warrior training — archery, horsemanship, and traditional skills — for five days. A compelling look at the physical demands of the tradition.
Watch
Equus: Story of the Horse — Chasing the Wind
A PBS Nature documentary on the history of horses and humans — featuring a segment on horse archery with Mike Loades. An expansive look at the relationship between horses and human civilisation that gave rise to mounted archery traditions worldwide.
Watch
Mongol Women Archers: Masters of the Bow
The overlooked story of Mongol women's archery — their training, their role in warfare, and their mastery of the composite bow throughout history.
Watch
Scythian Mounted Archery
A demonstration of Scythian-style mounted archery using a no-stirrups Scythian saddle — with the notable technique of pulling arrows with the bow hand.
WatchBooks
The Way of Archery — 1637 Chinese Military Training Manual
An English translation of a 1637 Chinese military archery manual — translated by Jared Olive — detailing shooting positions, training exercises, and bow philosophy from Ming Dynasty military doctrine. A rare primary source now available in print.
View BookOttoman Turkish Bows — Manufacture and Design
Adam Karpowicz's definitive book on Ottoman composite bow construction — horn, wood, and sinew — covering the famous flight bow, production methods, and the mounted archers who used them.
View BookTurkish Archery and the Composite Bow
A review of the old chapter of Turkish archery in the chronicles of archery history, with a modern interpretation of composite bow construction and technique.
View BookThe Composite Bow — Mike Loades
From Central Asia to Rome, Byzantium, Persia, and China — Mike Loades traces the composite bow across the ancient world, covering the Huns, Turks, Mongols, and the empires they shaped.
View BookWar Bows: Longbow, Crossbow, Composite Bow & Yumi
A comparative survey of the world's great war bows — the English longbow, European crossbow, Asiatic composite bow, and Japanese yumi — covering construction, range, and battlefield role.
View BookExhibition Catalogue: Mamlouks 1250–1517
The official catalogue from the Louvre's 2025 Mamluks exhibition — over 350 objects covering Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Anatolia under the Mamluk Sultanate. Still available to purchase.
OrderXiongnu — Oxford University Press
An academic study of the Xiongnu — the powerful steppe confederation that drove Chinese dynastic policy for centuries and is considered a precursor to the later Hunnic and Turkic peoples.
View BookDress Codes: How the Laws of Fashion Made History
A history of fashion as social control and cultural expression — covering how sumptuary laws and dress codes shaped identity across cultures, including the warrior dress traditions of Asiatic societies.
View BookBows
Manchu-Chinese Descriptions on the Palace Museum's Qing Bow Collection
Stephen Tang and Caesar Zhang analyze Palace Museum Qing Dynasty bows using Manchurian and Chinese inscriptions, offering rare primary-source insight into imperial bow classification.
ReadChinese Archery with Justin Ma — Loades of History
Mike Loades sits down with Justin Ma, one of the foremost experts on Chinese archery, for a deep and wide-ranging conversation on technique, history, and the living tradition.
Watch
The Magyar Bow
A deep dive into the Magyar composite bow — its construction, historical use by Hungarian horse archers, and its place in the Asiatic bow tradition.
Watch
Indian Bows
A survey of Indian archery traditions and bow construction, examining the distinctive composite bows of the subcontinent and their place in Asiatic archery history.
WatchGrózer Archery — In-Stock Bows
Hungarian bowyer Grózer regularly adds new traditional recurve composite bows to their in-stock page. Known for historically informed Asiatic composite designs at various draw weights.
ShopMetbows — Traditional Turkish Bows (up to 200#)
Metbows makes only Turkish bows — smaller bow, double the punch. Described by club members as very smooth. Goes up to 200# draw weight, making it a strong option for heavier shooters.
ShopSaluki Bow Co. — High Quality Turkish Bows
A premium bowyer recommended by club members for high-cost, high-quality Turkish composite bows. Worth checking for those prioritizing craftsmanship at a higher price point.
Shop
Mechanism of a Manchu Bow — Siyah Angle
A neat experiment using 3D-printed models to visualize how siyah angle specifically moves stored energy in a Manchu bow — a focused engineering look at what makes the design unique.
WatchWeapons
Arrows vs. Armour — Flat Plate Strike Tests
Tod's Workshop conducts rigorous flat plate strike tests to determine arrow penetration against historical armour — essential context for understanding Asiatic composite bow warfare.
Watch
Arrows vs. Armour — Mughal Empire Edition
How did arrows perform against armour in the age of early firearms? This Mughal Empire edition examines the transitional period when bows and guns coexisted on the battlefield.
Watch
Real Medieval Fire Arrows
Tod's Workshop tests and recreates authentic medieval fire arrows — examining construction, ignition, and effectiveness, with context relevant to Asiatic siege archery traditions.
Watch
Testing a 500-Year-Old Chinese Sword Move
A historical test of a 500-year-old Chinese sword technique from primary sources — examining biomechanics, cut angle, and whether the technique works as described.
WatchSteppe, Central Asian & Nomadic History
Turco-Mongol Tradition
The ethnocultural synthesis that arose among the ruling elites of the Golden Horde and Chagatai Khanate — how Mongol rulers assimilated into Turkic culture, producing the Timurid and Mughal empires.
Read
Who Were the Huns?
A cool overview tying Hunnic and Eurasian steppe history into Chinese, Persian, Indian, and Roman cultures — showing the vast reach of nomadic peoples across the ancient world.
Watch
Tartar vs Mongol: What's the Difference?
A short, clear explainer on the distinction between Tatar, Tartar, and Mongol — terms often confused in Western sources — from The Jackmeister's Mongol History channel.
Watch
Who Were the Cuman-Kipchaks?
An intensely researched video on the Cuman-Kipchaks — the steppe confederation whose warriors became the backbone of the Mamluk armies in Egypt. Essential background for Mamluk archery history.
Watch
Who Were the Pechenegs?
An in-depth look at the Pecheneg nomads — Turkic steppe horsemen who terrorized Byzantium and the Rus — their culture, warfare, and eventual absorption into the larger steppe world.
Watch
Why 99.7% of Mongolia is Completely Empty
RealLifeLore explores the geography, climate, and nomadic culture that shaped Mongolia — and continues to define Mongolian identity today. Good cultural context for understanding Mongol archery traditions.
WatchThe Scythians — The Ancients Podcast
A dedicated episode on Scythian culture from The Ancients podcast — covering the horse-archer peoples of the Pontic steppe, their bows, their art, and their enduring influence on subsequent nomadic traditions.
Listen
In the Saddle, On Horseback — Art of War of the Conquest-Era Magyars
A detailed documentary on the military tactics and equipment of the Hungarian conquest-era Magyars — master horse archers whose raids into Western Europe shook the Carolingian world.
Watch
Jereed — Ancient Turkish Sport Horseback Javelin
A look at jereed — the ancient Turkish equestrian sport of horseback javelin sparring — a living tradition that gives direct insight into the horsemanship culture behind Asiatic mounted archery.
Watch
The Nomadic Military Advantage
Why were nomads so difficult to fight? This video explores the structural, logistical, and tactical advantages that allowed steppe horse-archers to consistently defeat much larger settled armies.
WatchMusic & Performance
Kassia — Byzantine Hymns, First Female Composer
Kassia, a 9th century Byzantine composer — 300 years before Hildegard von Bingen — created some of the most striking sacred music of the medieval world. Hauntingly beautiful.
Listen
The Seljuks — Epic Music
Atmospheric epic music evoking the Seljuk Turks — the Central Asian dynasty whose horse archers transformed the medieval Near East and laid cultural groundwork for the Ottoman Empire.
Listen
Orientalism: Desert Level Music vs Actual Middle Eastern Music
Farya Faraji deconstructs the "desert level" musical tropes Hollywood applies to Middle Eastern settings versus what actual historical Middle Eastern music sounds and sounded like. Illuminating.
WatchBereket — Middle Eastern Music Ensemble, UT Austin
The Middle Eastern ensemble at UT Austin's Butler School of Music — a local resource for experiencing live traditional Middle Eastern musical performance right here in Austin.
Explore
Professional Persian Daf Instrument
A demonstration of the Persian daf (ربانه) — the large Iranian frame drum — played by a professional musician. A window into the musical traditions of the Iranian cultural sphere.
ListenHistory & Podcasts
No Friday Night Plans — History, Linguistics & Culture
A highly recommended YouTube channel: deeply researched, well-produced, and hosted by an actual scholar with a kind and thoughtful presentation style. Far above the typical hobbyist history content.
SubscribeByzantium & Friends — Antidote to Toxic Medievalism
A conversation with Amy Kaufman and Paul Sturtevant on toxic medievalism — how pop culture distorts the Middle Ages and what good historical thinking actually looks like. Highly recommended.
ListenHistorians Discussing Misrepresented Historical Figures
Historians talking about figures in their field who need to be re-examined because of how pop culture has simplified them. The first episode on Voltaire is great — and how he accidentally mangled our understanding of the Middle Ages.
Listen
In Class with Carr — Africana Studies with Dr. Greg Carr
A weekly Africana Studies class with Dr. Greg Carr, a history and law professor from Howard University. Four+ years of episodes, each adding books to your reading list. Long but extraordinarily deep.
WatchK Narrative — Framework for Cultural & Historical Analysis
Geared for Africana studies but applicable to most cultural studies — a framework for building genuine historical understanding rather than shallow pattern-matching. Great mental scaffolding for any serious history student.
ExploreAsian Americans — PBS Documentary Series
PBS's landmark documentary series on the history, identity, contributions, and challenges of Asian Americans — essential viewing for understanding the broader Asian diaspora that intersects with Asiatic archery traditions.
Watch
Tibetan Archery — A Brief History
Archery Historian explores Tibetan archery traditions stretching back to 2000 BC, covering the deep cultural roots and evolution of the practice in Tibet.
WatchArrows
Simsek Bows — War Arrows (Do Darb Points)
Simsek's war arrow selection including Type 1 and Type 2 Do Darb point arrows. Also carries quivers and bowcases recommended by club leadership as historically solid and fairly priced.
ShopSarmat Archery — Barreled Wooden Shafts
Sarmat makes well-regarded barreled wooden arrow shafts and pretty horn insert self nocks. Recommended during Mamluk class discussion for anyone building traditional Asiatic-style arrows.
ShopGold Tip Warrior Arrow Shafts
Quality carbon arrows in a variety of spines for short to long draw lengths and light to heavy weights. Recommended by club members as a reliable, accurate option for traditional shooting.
ShopPinals Carbon Arrows — Affordable Option
Club-tested and approved — Pinals carbon arrows fly great and are the most affordable option for members. Available in multiple spines with turkey feather or plastic fletching options.
ShopMILAEM Whistle Broadheads (125gr)
Copper whistle broadheads, 125 grain, 52mm length with #8-32 thread. A fun and functional broadhead option for traditional Asiatic archery practice or display.
ShopPrimer on Building Wood Arrows
A western traditional archery site's guide to building wood arrows — the premise and process is essentially the same for Asiatic wood arrows. A practical starting point for faire prep or arrow-building beginners.
ReadProcessed Leg Sinew — Pine Hollow Longbows
Processed sinew for traditional bow-making and arrow wrapping. Pine Hollow is known for quality primitive archery supplies with fast service and knowledgeable staff.
ShopProcessed Back Sinew — 3Rivers Archery
3Rivers Archery's processed back sinew — a go-to traditional archery supply source recommended by club members for sinew used in bow-building and arrow-making.
ShopCarol Archery — Tri Jig & Manchu Ring
Carol's Tri Jig for arrow-making — the Manchu model goes up to 13" and costs £130. A precision tool for fletching and arrow assembly used by traditional Asiatic archers.
ShopHistorical Clothing & Equipment
Ottoman Leather Quiver Pattern — Dark Horse Workshop
A 16th Century Ottoman Empire leather quiver pattern — the most historically accurate option found by club leadership, made with the proper number of suspension points. Available as PDF and SVG for laser cutters.
View PatternLeather Turkish Quiver & Bracer Pattern — KiLeatherworks
A PDF pattern set for a medieval Turkish quiver and bracer — 230+ favorites on Etsy. From the same creator as other popular patterns shared in the club.
View PatternLeather Quiver Pattern DIY — Medieval Turkish Quiver
Another KiLeatherworks pattern set for a medieval Turkish quiver — 206+ favorites. A DIY option for club members who want to build their own historically-informed quiver.
View PatternLeather Archery Pocket Quiver Pattern — Digital Download
A digital download PDF pattern for a leather archery pocket quiver — 103+ favorites on Etsy. Practical and portable quiver style for field use.
View PatternDark Horse Workshop — Leathercraft Membership
Medieval, fantasy, and Viking-inspired leathercraft content on Patreon from Dark Horse Workshop — the maker of the recommended Ottoman quiver pattern. Good for ongoing leatherwork learning.
ViewMamluk Archery — Quivers & Bowcases
Historically significant quivers and bowcases from Mamluk Archery — managed by Alperen Alkan, TAA has a direct line for shipment issues. Recommended as the top pick for solid, affordable options.
ShopSimsek Bows — Quivers & Bowcases
Simsek's quiver and bowcase selection — solid options at reasonable prices with historical significance. Also managed by Alperen Alkan; TAA has a direct line for any shipment questions.
ShopKonuralp Archery — Quivers (Etsy)
Konuralp Archery on Etsy offers a variety of quiver styles including Turkish and Mamluk. The Etsy platform provides buyer protection against delays or issues from overseas shops.
ShopHood Archery — Painted Traditional Quivers
Hood Archery offers a nice variety of painted traditional quivers. Arrows purchased from them were well-received; they're responsive on chat for questions. Note: past delays due to Turkey earthquake.
ShopOllecraft — Custom Leather Quivers & Bowcases
Several TAA members own Ollecraft pocket quivers, bow cases, and quiver sets — praised for solid construction and beautiful leather carving. Pre-order is the best route; queue can be 1-2 months but worth the wait.
ShopMontana Pitch-Blend Leather Dressing
An all-natural leather conditioner and waterproofer with beeswax, pine pitch, and mink oil. Recommended by club members for treating leather quivers, bowcases, and other gear — great results reported.
ShopCanadian Beeseal Leather Conditioner — Plant Based
An all-natural, 100% plant-based leather conditioner and protector made in Canada. Forms a durable moisture barrier and nourishes leather — recommended as the plant-based alternative to pitch-blend.
ShopReconstructing History — Turkish Sewing Patterns
Multi-sized and made-to-measure sewing patterns for historical Turkish clothing including kaftan and zibin patterns. Used by TAA members building historically accurate garb.
ShopRH406 — Quick Print Ottoman Turkish Woman Pattern
A digital download Ottoman Turkish women's clothing pattern from RHpatterns on Etsy — 167+ favorites. Also available in paper format. Picked up by club members for faire garb building.
View PatternMaking Your Own Turkish Garb — Vanessa Giddings
An SCA-approved guide to Ottoman Turkish costuming focusing on 14th century women's dress. Includes research notes and patterns — a solid starting point for anyone building historical Turkish garb.
ReadOttomanSwords.com — Kilij & Turkish Swords
Hand-forged Ottoman kilij, Zulfiqar, and Turkish swords in carbon and stainless steel. Discovered by a club member while researching faire garb — a surprisingly complete specialist shop.
ShopPeserey Handicrafts — 15th Century Ottoman Kilij
Custom-made-to-order 15th Century Turkish-Ottoman kilij with steel guard and fittings. Peserey Handicrafts makes high-quality Islamic and Ottoman edged weapons — "Arts of East."
ShopEast Asian Archery
Yumi (弓) — The Japanese Bow
A comprehensive historical article on the yumi — the asymmetric Japanese longbow. Covers its development from the Yayoi period through the samurai era, construction, and its role in Japanese military and ceremonial culture.
Read
Samurai Archery: The Legendary Yumi Bows of Ancient Japan
A short documentary on the yumi and its place in samurai culture — covering draw technique, the asymmetric design, and the spiritual philosophy embedded in Japanese archery tradition.
Watch
Yabusame: Ancient Samurai Horseback Archery
Yabusame is still practiced in Japan today — this short film captures the living tradition of mounted archery in which the archer shoots three targets at full gallop.
WatchKyudo Practice Guide
OKO Kyudo Europe's guide to the practice of Kyudo — the Japanese way of the bow — covering the eight stages of shooting, etiquette, and the philosophy of the discipline.
ExploreJessica Gerrity — Japanese Archery in Tokyo
An English-speaking practitioner based in Tokyo documenting Japanese archery traditions including Kyudo and shihanmato. A great follow for anyone interested in the living practice of Japanese archery.
ViewBamboo Hankyu Bow 59" — Sarmat Archery
An all-natural material hankyu (half bow) from Sarmat Archery — a traditional Japanese short bow used in shihanmato practice.
Shop
What Made the Samurai Bow So Deadly?
History Hit explores the yumi — the asymmetric Japanese longbow — its unique construction, the Kyudo school of archery, and what made it a devastating weapon of war.
WatchYabusame — Tim Ferriss
Tim Ferriss attempts to learn yabusame — Japanese horseback archery — on an accelerated 5-day timeline, documenting the training and the discipline required to shoot accurately from a galloping horse.
Watch
Ancient Chinese Ceremonial Shooting — Zhou Dynasty
A documentary on the 郷射礼 (ceremonial shooting ritual) from the Zhou Dynasty — the Confucian archery tradition that is the direct precursor to modern Kyudo. In Chinese, no subtitles.
Watch
Traditional Korean Bows and Archery
An exploration of Korean traditional archery — the gak-gung bow, thumb draw technique, and the living practice of this Asiatic archery tradition.
WatchManchu Bow Handles vs. Korean Handles
A post comparing Manchu bow handles to Korean traditional handles, highlighting striking similarities in grip design.
ViewKorean Bow Discussion
An interesting read on Korean traditional bow construction and history — thought-provoking context for anyone curious about gak-gung design and its place in the Asiatic bow family.
View
1933 Chinese Archery Video
Rare archival footage from 1933 showing Chinese archers in action, apparently shooting in the Manchu style — an extraordinary primary source window into the living tradition.
WatchChinese Archery with Justin Ma — Loades of History
Mike Loades sits down with Justin Ma, one of the foremost experts on Chinese archery, for a deep conversation on technique, history, and the living tradition.
Watch
Ice Skating Manchu Archery — Qing Dynasty Revived
The remarkable revival of a Qing Dynasty tradition combining ice skating with archery — a feat from the imperial court's winter games, recreated in stunning footage.
WatchManchu-Chinese Descriptions on the Palace Museum's Qing Bow Collection
Stephen Tang and Caesar Zhang analyze Palace Museum Qing Dynasty bows using Manchurian and Chinese inscriptions, offering rare primary-source insight into imperial bow classification.
ReadEurasian
Mamluk-Kipchak: The Skill of Archery
A scholarly article from De Re Militari examining historical Mamluk-Kipchak archery technique, form, and training methodology as described in primary sources.
ReadSaracen Archery
A foundational PDF text on Saracen archery technique, covering thumb draw, Mamluk-era form, and the technical traditions of Islamic archery.
DownloadArchery Education for Toxophilites
A beginner's course textbook and further reading hub from Fatima Elizabeth Archery Club, including a downloadable Mamluk archery handbook.
ExploreMamluk Archery Handbook
A condensed practitioner's handbook distilling Mamluk archery principles, technique, and historical context into an accessible reference document.
DownloadHeadwears in the Mamluk Sultanate (1250–1517)
A detailed, historically accurate Mamluk Academy article covering the serpush, turbans, and other headwear of the Mamluk Sultanate — essential for historical reconstruction.
ReadBody Types in Mamluk Archery and Their Differences
The Mamluk Academy applies a body-type classification framework to archery form — a centuries-old approach now seen through a modern lens.
ReadMamluk Academy Blog
The ongoing blog from Mamluk Academy (Ankara, Turkey) — TAA's partner organization. Covers Mamluk history, archery technique, and related historical research.
ReadMamluk Warriors — Illustration Gallery
A Flickr gallery of Angus McBride illustrations depicting Mamluk warriors — historically referenced images showing arms, equipment, and dress at the Battle of Marj al-Saffar.
View Gallery
Rags to Riches — The Rise and Fall of Mamluk Egypt
The remarkable story of the Mamluks: enslaved soldiers who rose to rule Egypt, defeated the Mongols, and held power for 267 years.
WatchMongols & Mamluks Podcast — Crusades Series
A podcast episode covering the collision of Mongol expansion and Mamluk resistance — an essential chapter in the history of the Islamic world.
ListenInteresting Podcast on the Mamluks
Another strong podcast episode dedicated to Mamluk history — covering the Sultanate's origins, warrior culture, and legacy in the broader Islamic world.
ListenArchery Historian — Website
A website dedicated to the history of archery across cultures. Features articles on Mamluk archery, Tibetan traditions, and how the bow changed the course of history.
ExploreMamluk Archery — Archery Historian
Archery Historian's dedicated article on Mamluk archery — covering the Mamluks as warrior slaves and their use of the composite bow in military affairs.
ReadArchery Historian — YouTube Channel
The Archery Historian's full YouTube channel, covering Tibetan, Mamluk, Scythian, Magyar, and other Asiatic archery traditions in well-researched video essays.
Subscribe
The Archer & The Bowman feat. Murat Özveri
A conversation between master archers exploring technique, traditional bow construction, and the historical depth of Asiatic archery — featuring the renowned Murat Özveri.
Watch
Rise of the Ottoman Empire — Kosovo to Constantinople
Kings and Generals' documentary covering the Ottoman rise from a small Anatolian beylik to a continental empire.
Watch
Were the Eastern Romans and Arabs Always at War?
Byzantine and Arab empires exchanging knowledge and art throughout the Middle Ages — a corrective to the perpetual conflict narrative.
Watch
True Size of a Byzantine Army c. 900 AD
A 3D documentary on Byzantine military organisation — covering how they integrated horse archers using Asiatic composite bows.
WatchThe Turkish History Podcast — The Imperial Cloak
Post-First Crusade era in Anatolia — the developing distinction between nomadic and settled Turkic tribes, and alliances between Turkish beyliks and the Romans.
ListenHistory of Byzantium — The Fall of Anatolia
The Mongol arrival in Anatolia, the waves of Turkic tribes entering Byzantine territory, and the first mention of Osman — founder of the Ottoman Empire.
ListenBBC — Muslim Spain (711–1492)
Islamic Spain was a multi-cultural mix of Muslims, Christians, and Jews that brought civilisation to Europe matching the heights of the Roman Empire and the Italian Renaissance.
ReadFresco Reveals Islamic Tent in Medieval Christian Church
A 700-year-old fresco found in a northern Italian convent church suggests luxurious Islamic tents were used to cover Christian altars in medieval Europe.
ReadWhy Did the Ottomans Let Janissaries Get Tattoos?
A Reddit thread from r/islam exploring the surprising history of Janissary tattooing — their use of ink as unit identification worn on the right arm and leg.
Read
Rise and Fall of the Sassanid Persian Empire
The Sassanid Empire's story — covering the Persian military machine, their armored cavalry, and their role as a conduit for Asiatic archery traditions.
WatchSino-Roman Relations
The indirect contacts, trade flows, and occasional travelers between the Roman Empire and Han Dynasty — including how archery traditions traveled along the Silk Road.
ReadTurco-Mongol Tradition
The ethnocultural synthesis that arose among the ruling elites of the Golden Horde and Chagatai Khanate — how Mongol rulers assimilated into Turkic culture.
Read