Not always fond of the use of "tribes" (which in itself is a pretty dated concept) to describe what was a complex empire. While certain early medieval kingdoms

Not always fond of the use of "tribes" (which in itself is a pretty dated concept) to describe what was a complex empire. While certain early medieval kingdoms or duchies are called such (and not tribes) while being just one family governing over a small area, with a much simpler administrative structure. Also recommend the work of Simon Berger, who pushes more for the empire of the steppes not being simply "nomadic tribes" but a proper nomadic state: https://www.academia.edu/106272853/Nomadic_State_in_the_Sedentary_World_The_Military_Mode_of_Government_of_Conquered_Lands_in_the_Mongol_Empire_Chronica_21_2023 https://www.academia.edu/106272853/Nomadic_State_in_the_Sede... For those who speak French there is also this very in-depth series of videos on that topic (steppes), which also goes over the work of Simon Berger and some very early historians encounter with the steppes cultures: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKZgJ2XooL3ARUPRafV2y3972rfXTbrl8&si=7H5aXFOLb0aIl6zV https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKZgJ2XooL3ARUPRafV2y3972...