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Aug. 6, 2006 Paleo-Indians, living some twelve thousand years ago, probably caused the extinction of seventy percent of the large mammal species that lived in North America. During this time period, mammoth steaks, horse roasts, buffalo tongue, and even lion tenderloin were on the menu. The Indians used atlatls, a stick that added velocity to spear throws, tipped with extra large arrowheads to wipe out the megafauna. Once the large animals were reduced in population across the world, man was forced to look for alternative sources of food. Some cultures developed agriculture and math and letters were invented so the harvest could be distributed in accordance with the wishes of those in power. Thus "civilization" was born. But there were those men who considered civilization, decadent. They chose to remain nomadic. They tamed the horse and followed the last of the big game herds. One such nomad was Attila, the Hun. The Huns were Northern Mongolian people. They were unable to conquer China so they went west and conquered Russia, Eastern Europe, Germany, and parts of Scandinavia instead. By 400 AD they were putting pressure on the Slavic peoples who were in turn flooding the Roman Empire with refugees openly hostile to the Empire. When Attila came to power, the Eastern Roman Empire was already paying an annual three hundred fifty pound tribute of gold to the Huns, while the Western Roman Empire had given them a province in exchange for battling the Slavs and Germans or Goths as they were known in history. Attila demanded a doubling of annual tribute, and he killed his brother, Bleda, so he wouldn't have to share. He also demanded the return of escaped Roman slaves who he had crucified upon their return. Attila was ruthless and bloodthirsty, but he also must have been a brilliant organizer. He could muster between five hundred and seven hundred thousand men which is almost as large as the modern U.S. army. Not all of his men were of Mongolian descent. When the Huns invaded an area, they would burn to the ground any villages, towns, or cities that resisted. If the communities just surrendered, the men would be killed or conscripted, the good looking women and the skillful artisans would be enslaved, and the wealthy would be robbed. In this way people were assimilated, however unwillingly. The Huns lived a spartan lifestyle, existing on a diet of meat, blood, milk, and fermented milk. The Romans considered meat consumption barbaric and subsisted mostly on bread and wine. The only meat they ate was heavily disguised in sauce or adulterated as sausage. So it was a war of cultures when the Huns came into contact with the Romans. While the Huns were at peace with Rome, the Vandals took North Africa away from the Eastern Roman Empire. The Eastern Roman Empire's army was sent to take it back, and Attila decided this was the perfect time to break his peace treaty. He burned six major Roman cities down and defeated the Eastern Roman army in three major battles after they hurried back from the sea. The citizens of the defeated Eastern Empire were killed or conscripted or raped or robbed and the Empire's annual tribute was doubled yet again. The Western Roman Empire was battling the Visigoths for control of Gaul which is now France, but they formed an alliance when Attila turned his attention here. Attila's forces were harrassed on unfamiliar and unfriendly territory and he finally lost in the Battle of Chalons--a bloody apocalypse where chroniclers of the time estimated the number of dead between one hundred sixty and three hundred thousand, an entire generation. Attila expected to die, but the Roman general, Aetius, declined to press further because he was afraid the Visigoths would turn on him without the threat of Hun invasion. Reprieved, Attila invaded the heart of the Western Roman Empire--Italy. He demanded a Roman princess as a wife so he could become king of Rome. Seven Roman towns that resisted were utterly destroyed. Two surrendered and were just robbed. Aetius used guerrilla warfare and rear guard actions but was forced to surrender. The Roman princess was enroute and the Huns celebrated their victory. Unfortunately, they weren't used to eating bread, sausages, and wine and more soldiers died due to the rich food which made them sick, then during the battles through Italy. Attila also celebrated...he chose a wife to tide him over until the Roman princess arrived. Ildico must have been one exciting woman. Attila's soldiers discovered Attila dead on his wedding bed, although there is a theory he was poisoned by his own men. No strong leaders followed Attila and the Huns fell apart, warring with each other and eventually assimilating with Europeans and even today, especially in Hungary, there are many Europeans with Asian blood. ------------ About the author Mark Gelbart: My book, Talk Radio, is a black comedy about a radio talk show host who gets kidnapped and psychologically tortured by a loser. www.mark-gelbart.com Email: agelbart@aol.com Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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