The book is a significantly revised edition of a 1996 monograph dedicated to the first nomadic empire in the history of Central Asia, the Xiongnu Empire (209 BC - 48 AD). How and why the Xiongnu (Asian Huns) created a powerful power that terrified neighboring peoples, what pushed them to conquest and campaigns, what were the features of their social structure, why the Xiongnu power collapsed as quickly as it arose - all these questions are considered in the monograph. A prominent place is given to the presentation of general theoretical problems of the history of the nomadic world and the origin of archaic statehood, the specifics of historical and anthropological reading of chronicle sources, methods of computer analysis of archaeological material, methods of environmental, economic, demographic and social reconstructions in archaeology. The book is intended for historians, archaeologists and ethnological anthropologists . Thanks to its clear language and engaging style, it will attract the attention of a wide range of readers, as well as anyone interested in the history of ancient civilizations.