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The Huns Dbq

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The Huns, a nomadic people group, were first known to exist in the central Asian steppes. They were also known as one of the greatest threats in the 5th century. The Huns were a significant part of the start of the downfall of Rome. From a small group of barbaric warriors to one of the most powerful kingdoms in the 5th century, the Huns devastated everything they attacked. But the question remains, how did they do it? The Huns were so successful in conquering Europe and Asia because of their great leader, unique fighting style, and the fear they struck into the hearts of their enemies.

Hunic tribes began their chapter in history with unorganized and separate attacks during the late 300s in Central Asia and different parts of Europe such …show more content…

Attila knew how to exploit the weaknesses of the Romans. He would strike fear into the hearts of his enemies by slaughtering entire towns and civilizations. Attila would then propose treaties that made the Romans pay tribute to him out of fear that he would attack. The way Attila leveraged fear gave him even more power. In 439 A.D. the treaty of Margus was signed. This treaty said that the Eastern Roman Empire had to return Hun captives and pay a yearly tribute to the Huns in gold. The Romans soon broke the treaty and the Huns attacked them, devastating many large cities such as Singidunum and Viminacium. After this war, more treaties were signed which gave even larger amounts of gold to the Hun empire. The plethora of wealth and political power Attila the Hun possessed gave him the upper hand in almost every battle he took on. The Huns peaked in power and wealth while Attila was …show more content…

This perception may be true at times, but the Huns new exactly what they were good at and used that to their advantage. The Huns were raised to be great warriors and hunters. They would learn how to ride horses and shoot a bow, a skill in which they exceeded. Their exceptional riding capabilities let the Huns use mobility as one of their main assets in battle. Even though some Huns used other weapons such as swords, whips, and spears, the Huns’ preferred weapon was the bow and arrow. Few Huns wore armor because armor was something a higher ranked official would dress in. The combination of the bow with a skilled rider led to the Huns being a fierce attack force. Their favorite battle style was a battle fought far away from the enemy. They could be deadly with their bows from afar and then use their horses to keep the distance while still shooting. Their hit and run style of fighting was a way of battle that the Eastern Roman Empire was not used to dealing with. This way of fighting helped the Huns conquer the

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