From Steppe Warriors to Women Ghazis | Hüsamettin Şimşir: Talk

As part of the Arts and Culture Lecture Series, Yunus Emre Institute in London presents an evening with historian and scholar Hüsamettin Şimşir, whose work has long engaged with Istanbul not simply as a setting, but as a site where history, imagination, and narrative consciousness intersect.

In his talk, Hüsamettin Şimşir examines the evolving roles of women in warfare across nomadic societies from Antiquity to the late medieval period, with a particular focus on the Eurasian steppe and Anatolian frontier regions. Drawing on archaeological evidence, classical sources, and medieval texts, it challenges the assumption that warfare was an exclusively male domain in premodern societies. Findings such as weapon-bearing female burials and skeletal evidence of habitual horseback riding suggest that women in early steppe cultures possessed and, at times, exercised martial skills.

The study traces a long-term transformation in women’s participation in warfare. While women in ancient nomadic societies could engage more directly in mounted combat, by the medieval period their roles increasingly shifted toward logistical support, camp management, and, in some cases, political or military leadership. However, this shift did not represent a complete disappearance of women from martial life. Instead, it reflects a reconfiguration shaped by the emergence of centralized states, institutionalized armies, and new religious and social frameworks.

Focusing on late medieval Anatolia, the talk highlights evidence from sources such as Gazilik Tarikası and contemporary chronicles, which reveal that women could still participate in warfare as part of a broader communal obligation. In certain frontier contexts, women were not only involved in support roles but could also engage in combat, diplomacy, and the negotiation of peace. These findings suggest that steppe traditions of gender flexibility persisted and were adapted within the socio-political realities of the Anatolian frontier, offering a more nuanced understanding of women’s place in premodern military history.

For more information on the event, please visit Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London’s Website: https://yeelondon.org.uk/ or email us at londra@yee.org.tr

IMPORTANT NOTES: As this is a free event, we often experience a number of no-shows. To make sure seats don’t go empty, we may issue a limited number of additional tickets. Admission is therefore subject to venue capacity and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that registration or an e-ticket does not guarantee a seat, and standing admission may be possible.

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