Following a recent study, it appears that the Huns may not have been the violent and greedy barbarians depicted by some classical historians. Instead, the study suggests that the semi-nomadic Huns were driven to raid and invade the eastern Roman provinces due to extreme hunger, rather than an insatiable desire for gold. The study used tree rings to reconstruct climate data to reach this conclusion.
Based on the research of archaeologists from the University of Cambridge, the early fifth century on the Great Hungarian Plain was marked by a series of dry summers, as recorded in the growth lines of oak trees from the Czech Republic and Bavaria.
This period, between 420 and 450 CE, was characterized by a tumultuous climate on the Eurasian steppes, likely causing difficulties for the people living there. The analysis from the research claims that the times of drought would have made it necessary for Hun communities to alternate between farming in a specific location and moving their herds to more fertile pastures
Climate and Ancient Data
The teeth of ancient human remains found on the Great Hungarian steppes suggest that the Huns' diet changed frequently throughout their lives, indicating that they were able to adapt to whatever food sources were available. This ability to adapt to changing circumstances may have led to shifts in societal roles within Hun society.
Archaeologist Susanne Hakenbeck mentioned that resource scarcity may have forced settled populations to relocate, diversify their subsistence practices, and switch between farming and mobile animal herding to survive. These strategies may have been a way to cope with a challenging climate. Attila the Hun, who rose to power in the 430s, is often seen as a key figure in the escalation of warfare during this period. Roman historians claim that Attila regularly raided Roman city-states and demanded gold and land from them.
Although Attila is often depicted as a greedy leader who sought to exploit the Roman Empire, it is important to consider the context in which his attacks on the eastern frontier occurred. At the time, the Carpathian Basin was experiencing increasing aridity, which may have been a factor in Attila's actions. Before the 440s, relations between the Huns and Romans were reportedly mutually beneficial, but these collaborations eventually broke down.
Illustration of Attila from 1891. Climate data reveals, ancient nomadic leader Attila the Hun raided Roman provinces due to drought and scarce resources.
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Drought and Scarce Resources
During times of drought, when grazing land was scarce, Hun herders may have been forced to turn to raids and harassment to survive. It is likely that the Huns, who may have been in a state of desperation due to resource scarcity, raided the livestock of their neighbors and relied on a leader, such as a warlord or a warrior king, to unite them and negotiate demands for payment.
According to researchers from Cambridge, the most destructive Hunnic invasions, which occurred in 447, 451, and 452 CE, took place during extremely dry summers. This raises the possibility that changes in the environment may have prompted adaptations in terms of subsistence, economy, and possibly even social organization. Although more concrete archaeological evidence is needed to confirm this hypothesis, the timing of the events described raises questions and suggests that further investigation is warranted.
If the researchers are correct, it is possible that Attila's attacks on the Roman Empire were motivated by a desire to provide for his people in the face of extreme resource scarcity. Roman records from this period note that Attila demanded a strip of land along the Danube River from the Roman Empire. While this demand could be seen as an act of greed, it is also possible that Attila was seeking access to floodplains, which are well-suited for grazing livestock such as sheep, camels, or horses.
The Roman Invasion
The research adds that Attila's raids on Roman provinces were motivated by a need for food and livestock during times of drought, rather than a primary desire for gold. During Attila's reign, the Huns were successful in invading Gaul and northern Italy, including the capture of the city of Milan. However, Attila's sudden death in 453 led to a power struggle among his sons, and the following year the Huns were finally defeated. History, as often noted, is written by the victors, and Roman accounts have contributed to the portrayal of the Huns as ugly, angry, unnecessarily violent, and greedy.
While it is true that some of the Huns engaged in violent raiding, the new findings suggest that this behavior was likely driven by a need for survival in the face of difficult circumstances. The negative image of the Huns persists to this day, but research using tree rings as a natural record is helping to provide a more objective understanding of their history. According to Hakenbeck, climate change can affect the resources available in a given environment, leading people to make decisions that impact their economy and social and political organization.
These decisions are not always rational and may not always lead to successful outcomes in the long term. The example of the Huns demonstrates that people can respond to climate stress in complex and unpredictable ways and that short-term solutions may have negative consequences in the long term. This research was presented in the Journal of Roman Archaeology.
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