Population of the steppes

[LamaGT]

So, I'm searching info for a mod I'm willing to make(it's for EU3), but I'm struggling to find any good info on how big was the population of the steppes in the 15th century, and how Russia changed it.
Basically I want to understand if the Golden Horde had a population of mainly nomads as represented in DW, but from what I found so far they surely had civilized cities, so I'm confused.
Also did Russia exterminate the native population when they colonized the steppes? Or they just were assimilated?

 

[Lone Wolf]

Basically I want to understand if the Golden Horde had a population of mainly nomads as represented in DW, but from what I found so far they surely had civilized cities, so I'm confused.

From what I know, the majority of their land wasn't under agricultural cultivation, but they did have some agricultural territories (around the Volga river, mainly) with cities. As the Horde descended into strife, these cities started to decline, in particular, the cities on Lower Volga like Ukek (next to modern Saratov) and Saray, their capital. Ukek was very likely completely razed by Timur shortly before EU3 starts.

Russia didn't engage in systemic large-scale extermination, though there was the usual military conquest stuff. There, however, was a large Russian migration to the conquered areas. Kazan', the city on Upper Volga, which was conquered by Ivan IV's army in 1552, is now 48% Russian and 47% Tatar. The region of Saratov, however, is 85% Russian.

 

[LamaGT]

From what I know, the majority of their land wasn't under agricultural cultivation, but they did have some agricultural territories (around the Volga river, mainly) with cities. As the Horde descended into strife, these cities started to decline, in particular, the cities on Lower Volga like Ukek (next to modern Saratov) and Saray, their capital. Ukek was very likely completely razed by Timur shortly before EU3 starts.

Russia didn't engage in systemic large-scale extermination, though there was the usual military conquest stuff. There, however, was a large Russian migration to the conquered areas. Kazan', the city on Upper Volga, which was conquered by Ivan IV's army in 1552, is now 48% Russian and 47% Tatar. The region of Saratov, however, is 85% Russian.

Thanks, so basically except the Volga area the steppe was a wasteland, but there wasn't any population at all? Or some random tribes settling there for a while?

 

[Lone Wolf]

Nomadic tribes.

 

[Phrossack]

Thanks, so basically except the Volga area the steppe was a wasteland, but there wasn't any population at all? Or some random tribes settling there for a while?

Lack of permanent settlement doesn't mean no population. True, the steppes are vast, flat, and full of almost nothing but short grass, but that can support a lot of nomads, and the region was still home to a lot of nomads. Hell, even today Mongolia has roughly a million nomads. That should say something about the steppes' carrying capacity.

 

[LamaGT]

Lack of permanent settlement doesn't mean no population. True, the steppes are vast, flat, and full of almost nothing but short grass, but that can support a lot of nomads, and the region was still home to a lot of nomads. Hell, even today Mongolia has roughly a million nomads. That should say something about the steppes' carrying capacity.

I understand, but I was trying to figure out if there were any permanent settlements in the Golden Horde, and I got my answer, thanks!

PS: I might have some other questions later