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Nomadic Felt Making

Type Object Region Steppe Time c. 1–500

Nomadic felt making is a traditional craft of felting wool, camel hair, and other fibers by wetting, pressing, and rolling them so the fibers entangl…

Timeline

  1. c. 1–200Mongolian Steppe · Mongolian SteppeXiongnu society was based on sheep herding, with women leading felt production, turning out felt blankets for covering yurts, saddle cloths, and clothing—an important handicraft link in the nomadic economy.
  2. c. 200–350Northern steppe (Mobei) · Mongolian SteppeDuring the Wei and Jin period, the Xianbei and other peoples continued the felt-making tradition, and felt products also flowed into the Central Plains as tribute and trade goods, reflecting steppe–agrarian material exchange.
  3. c. 350–500Central Asian steppe · Central AsiaCentral Asian nomadic powers such as the Hephthalites continued the felt-making craft; felt tents and felt goods became standard equipment for steppe military camps and trade caravans.

Sources