Han China vs. Xionghu
The Xionghu Empire was made up of a confederacy of nomadic people under the rule of Modu Chanyu. They were fierce mountain warriors that ruled from western Manchuria to the Pamirs, and also covered most of Siberia and Mongolia. From 600 BCE- 600 CE, Xionghu tribes raided Han China and destroyed towns, taking their goods. The Han Empire made an attempt to control these nomads and prevent their raids by offering Chinese princesses and offering goods such as gold and silk. Unfortunately for the Han Empire, the Xionghu raids continued. Because of these constant invasions on the northern frontier, Emperor Wu changed from a passive foreign policy to an offensive strategy in order to deal with the Xionghu raids. Zhang Qian was sent by Emperor Wu to explore the western lands to form an alliance with the Yuezhi people to help fight the Xionghu. Although unsuccessful in forming an alliance, the Han Empire used the silk road to move men and material goods for a large scale attack. The Han ambushed the Xionghu for the first time at Mayi in 133 BCE. Full scale war broke out after the Han attacked the Xionghu border markets with 40,000 men. After decline in war, the Han offered a peace treaty to bring the Xionghu attacks to a halt. They also offered women, gold, and silk, but the Xionghu refused. The war between Han China and Xionghu led to the decline of the Xionghu Empire, due to the fact that several Xionghu kingdoms were destroyed. This war also made Han China a powerful empire.
http://prezi.com/naxny8aii_47/external-problems-among-frontiers-han-china-and-the-xiongu/
http://prezi.com/naxny8aii_47/external-problems-among-frontiers-han-china-and-the-xiongu/
Gupta vs. White Huns
The White Huns were a nomadic confederation is Central Asia. They had great power in the 5th and 6th centuries CE. The White Huns were also called Hephthalites. The White Huns invaded the Gupta Empire of India is 480 CE. The Huns were clever and waited until the death of the Gupta Empire's ruler, Skandagupta and entered India through the Kabul valley. They led 2 raids: the first, crossing the Hindu Kush to raid the plains of India, which weakened the empire and shrunk the control over the provinces. The second invasion, starting in 500 CE, was the invasion that dealt the deathblow to the Gupta Empire. The Gupta entirely vanished by the end of 550 CE. After the invasions, few White Hun groups remained in India, where they converted to the religion and lived the rest of their lives there.
http://earlyworldhistory.blogspot.com/2012/03/gupta-empire.html
http://www.worldhistorymaps.info/history/hephthalites.html
http://earlyworldhistory.blogspot.com/2012/03/gupta-empire.html
http://www.worldhistorymaps.info/history/hephthalites.html
Romans vs. Northern/Eastern Neighbors
Conflict between the Roman Empire and its neighbors was one of the longest lasting wars in history, nearly 700 years long. The main border conflicts were between the Roman Empire and the Sassanid Empire. Also, there was conflict with the Parthians. The first of the conflicts began with the Roman Republic having conflict with Parthia. In 53 BCE, the Roman Republic began leading invasions against Parthia, which created tension between the two civilizations. Later, the Roman Empire, with the remaining tensions created by the republic, created a fresh series of conflict in the 2nd century CE after Emperor Trajan of Rome led a series of invasions into Parthia. The war lasted into the beginning of the 2nd century CE, where the final war against the Parthians was launched by Roman Emperor Caracalla, sacking Arbella in 216. After being assassinated, his successor, Macrinus, was defeated by the Parthians near Nisibis. After his defeat, Macrinus was obliged to pay for the damage caused by Caracalla in exchange for peace.
In 230 CE, the Sassanid Empire raided Mesopotamia and Syria under Ardashir. Ardashir attacked again near the end of his reign and conflict intensified under Ardashir's successor, Shapur I. War and conflict continued up until the mid 330's where Shapur II began a series of offensive attacks against the Romans. Although Shapur II won many battles and was victorious, his campaigns achieved little lasting effect. Roman Emperor Julius advanced down the Euphrates in 363 with major offensive attack. Julius won a few battles, but was unable to capture the Persian capital, and was forced to retreat along the Tigris. In 384 or 387, a peace treaty was signed by Shapur III and Theodosius, which divided Armenia between the two.
Conflict between Sassanid and Rome and other neighboring civilizations continued for several decades. The series of wars that Rome was involved in, starting in the 1st century BCE and ending in the 6th century CE, brought the fall of Rome in 476 with the resignation of Romulus Augustus, the last Roman Emperor of the western empire. Although Rome fell in the 4th century, the eastern part came to be known as the Byzantine Empire, which lasted several centuries after the fall of classical Rome.
http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/ch22-ard.htm
http://www.allempires.com/article/index.php?q=war_roman_parthian
In 230 CE, the Sassanid Empire raided Mesopotamia and Syria under Ardashir. Ardashir attacked again near the end of his reign and conflict intensified under Ardashir's successor, Shapur I. War and conflict continued up until the mid 330's where Shapur II began a series of offensive attacks against the Romans. Although Shapur II won many battles and was victorious, his campaigns achieved little lasting effect. Roman Emperor Julius advanced down the Euphrates in 363 with major offensive attack. Julius won a few battles, but was unable to capture the Persian capital, and was forced to retreat along the Tigris. In 384 or 387, a peace treaty was signed by Shapur III and Theodosius, which divided Armenia between the two.
Conflict between Sassanid and Rome and other neighboring civilizations continued for several decades. The series of wars that Rome was involved in, starting in the 1st century BCE and ending in the 6th century CE, brought the fall of Rome in 476 with the resignation of Romulus Augustus, the last Roman Emperor of the western empire. Although Rome fell in the 4th century, the eastern part came to be known as the Byzantine Empire, which lasted several centuries after the fall of classical Rome.
http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/ch22-ard.htm
http://www.allempires.com/article/index.php?q=war_roman_parthian