Your Steppe IQ 

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!

  Image Source

  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.