Map of East Asia around 215 BC: Qin with the Ordos taken by Meng Tian, the Xiongnu under Duman north of the Yellow River, the Donghu in the east and the Yuezhi between Dunhuang and the Qilian mountains, with a second reading in the Tian Shan
c. 215 BC: The First Emperor of Qin sends Meng Tian north. He takes the Ordos inside the great bend of the Yellow River and makes the river the frontier. The Xiongnu chanyu Duman withdraws to the north; how far, the source does not say. The Donghu hold the east, the Yuezhi the land between Dunhuang and the Qilian mountains; a second reading places them in the Tian Shan. Modern map; the borders in the steppe are approximate.
Plate I in the Atlas → © Emre-E Yavuz 2026

And beyond the steppe

  • China Qin Shi Huangdi 221 BC–210 BC · Er Shi 210 BC–207 BC

Eastern steppe

  • Technology · The Xiongnu appear with the full panoply of the steppe warrior: compound bow, whistling arrows, swords, lances and maces

    Xiongnu