The central steppe region had long been inhabited by horse-mounted nomads who could reach all areas of Asia from the steppes.
ðə sˈɛntɹəl stˈɛp ɹˈiːdʒən hæd lˈɔŋ bˌɪn ɪnhˈæbɪɾᵻd baɪ hˈɔːɹsmˈaʊntᵻd nˈoʊmædz hˌuː kʊd ɹˈiːtʃ ˈɔːl ˈɛɹiəz ʌv ˈeɪʒə fɹʌmðə stˈɛps.