Your Steppe IQ

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Quiz Questions

1.
How many time zones wide is the Eurasian steppe?
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- A.
  4
- B.
  5
- C.
  6
- D.
  7
- E.
  8
2.
Roughly what percent of modern humans carry discernible steppe ancestry in their DNA?
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- A.
  20%
- B.
  40%
- C.
  60%
- D.
  80%
- E.
  100%
3.
If we pooled the DNA of all humans alive today, about what percent of that total ancestry originally comes from the steppe?
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- A.
  1%
- B.
  2%
- C.
  5%
- D.
  15%
- E.
  25%
4.
Without the steppe and its peoples, humanity might not have had (choose all that fit):
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- A.
  wine
- B.
  trousers
- C.
  saddles, stirrups, bits, chariots and wagons
- D.
  plough horses, mounted knights, cavalry
- E.
  the compound bow
- F.
  the Symposium
5.
What modern nations include steppe terrain? (choose all)
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- A.
  Armenia
- B.
  China
- C.
  Estonia
- D.
  Finland
- E.
  Hungary
- F.
  Iran
- G.
  Kazakhstan
- H.
  Mongolia
- I.
  Russia
- J.
  Turkey
- K.
  Ukraine
- L.
  Uzbekistan
6.
Which empire/s never had a ruler with steppe origins? (choose all that apply)
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- A.
  Han Dynasty
- B.
  Manchu Dynasty
- C.
  Tang Dynasty
- D.
  Mughal
- E.
  Ottoman
- F.
  Russian
- G.
  Seljuks
7.
Which empires were attacked by steppe peoples before going on to their own reigns of dominance? (choose all that apply)
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- A.
  Byzantines
- B.
  Germans
- C.
  Han Chinese
- D.
  Russians
- E.
  Sassanians
- F.
  Venetians
8.
What material remains did steppe empires leave to posterity? (choose all that apply)
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- A.
  cities
- B.
  architecture
- C.
  statues
- D.
  libraries
- E.
  pots
- F.
  a little jewelry
- G.
  burial mounds
- H.
  nearly nothing
9.
Mongols aside, what contemporary chronicler of Steppe peoples wrote from a Steppe perspective?
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- A.
  Herodotus
- B.
  Ozymandias
- C.
  Procopius
- D.
  Sima Quan
- E.
  no one
10.
Do you know your personal Steppe ancestry percentage?
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- A.
  yes
- B.
  no
11.
If you know your percent Steppe ancestry, what is it?
- A.
  less than 20%
- B.
  20% to less than 40%
- C.
  40% to less than 60%
- D.
  60% to less than 80%
- E.
  80% to 100%
- F.
  Said I didn't know.

Quiz Outcomes

1.
Do you even Steppe, bruh?
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I'm just kidding! But seriously, I kind of envy you all the fresh reading that awaits you if you fall down this rabbit hole, too.I'm starting a Substack series covering the historic and prehistoric eras of steppe influence on our species and civilization generally.1. This free post offers a short list of best books for getting up to speed. This is a great place to start if anything in the quiz intrigued you.2. And in this free post, I reflect on both why the Steppe matters so powerfully to me and why I think it should to everyone.So if you haven't already, I hope you'll join me on my Substack where you can access this kind of content any time or get it delivered as an email.
2.
Wild horses couldn't keep you from the steppe!
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Nice! You show some emerging Steppe chops! As you continue your steppe journey, I kind of envy you all the reading that still awaits.I'm starting a Substack series covering the historic and prehistoric eras of steppe influence on our species and civilization generally.1. This free post offers a short list of best books for getting up to speed. You might like to see if there's something you haven't picked up yet.2. And in this free post, I reflect on both why the Steppe has mattered so powerfully to me and why it should to everyone.So if you haven't already, I hope you'll join me on my Substack where you can access this kind of content any time or get it delivered as an email.
3.
Welcome to Steppelandia!
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Clearly, you are up on the Steppe! There are so few of us. Here's to converting more!I'm starting a Substack series covering the historic and prehistoric eras of steppe influence on our species and civilization generally.1. This free post offers a short list of best books for getting up to speed. Have a look and drop me a line or a comment if I've missed any of your essential recommendations.2. Then, in this free post, I reflect on both why the Steppe matters so powerfully to me and why I think it should to everyone.So if you haven't already, I hope you'll join me on my Substack where you can access this kind of content any time or get it delivered as an email.
4.
Whoa! You are... a Khan!
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I'm just kidding! But seriously, legit score. Props!We Steppe-heads are so few. Feel free to flaunt your high score. You never know where you might attract another adherent.I'm starting a Substack series covering the historic and prehistoric eras of steppe influence on our species and civilization generally. Shoot me your suggestions if there are aspects you think I shouldn't miss or papers you think I should touch on.1. This free post offers a short list of best books for getting up to speed. Have a look and drop me a line or a comment if I've missed any of your essential recommendations.2. Then, in this free post, I reflect on both why the Steppe matters so powerfully to me and why I think it should to everyone.So if you haven't already, I hope you'll join me on my Substack where you can access this kind of content any time or get it delivered as an email.

Your Steppe IQ

Gauge your grasp on the centrality of the Eurasian steppe to human history, progress and modern ancestry.

Quiz Questions

Quiz Outcomes