Map of the Pontic steppe around 450: the realm of Attila from the Danube to the Volga, the Akatziri in two proposed places, the Alans north of the Caucasus, and the Eastern Roman Empire and Sasanian Persia as neighbours
c. 450: The realm of Attila reaches from the Danube into the steppe. The Akatziri stand in two proposed places, north-west of the Black Sea and by the Sea of Azov. Modern map. No source records the frontier.
Plate XI in the Atlas → © Emre-E Yavuz 2026

Who ruled

And beyond the steppe

  • China Northern Wei Emperor Taiwu 423–452
  • Iran Sasanian Yazdegerd II 438–457
  • Korea Goguryeo Jangsu 413–491
  • Byzantium Theodosian Theodosius II 408–450 · Marcian 450–457

Eastern steppe

  • Technology · The Ashina, settled on the Golden Mountain under the Rouran, work iron; the Sui Shu's 工於鐵作

    Ashina

    Dated only by the migration of 439; the founding of the clan is put at 439 or at 460

Western steppe

  • Culture · Sogdian colonists found the first towns of Semirech'e, Suyab and Navaket among them, as estates of nobles (450–600)

    Suyab · Sogdians

Tarim and Sogdiana

  • Culture · Towns founded and walls built in Sogdiana under the Kidarites: Panjikent, Paikent, Bukhara; the citadel of Samarkand raised (440–470)

    Sogdiana · Samarkand · Paikent · Bukhara

Byzantium