Huns invade Europe 650 years earlier.

I'm curious as to what the result might be if there is a population migration or invasion from the Steppe peoples (such as the Huns) about 650 years earlier than occurred historically - or right around the time of the First Punic War. At that time, Rome was still a city-state (which held a significant amount of Italian territory), Carthage was still a major state, Greece was city-states, and so on. What would a steppe invasion or population migration possibly do in this period, with no real unified powers to stand against them?
 
Sarmatians around that time wer pretty settled. Also,anyone comin that way around that time would have Daco/thracians in their way. Rome and Carthage would be not so concerned. Greek behavior is difficult to predict.
 
So you're probably talking about a Scythian invasion. Not impossible...the Persians had a few run-ins, possibly costing them Cyrus the Great. Darius had better success. Most of those seem to be in Scythian territory, wherein they engaged in typical steppe warfare, ie retreat, burn, eventually turn on exhausted hungry enemy. Not much in the way of organized offensives designed to occupy.

There was a Scythian invasion in Phillip of Macedon's time, which he defeated, killed their king and I think that's generally seen as their high water mark...they had been controlling most of the Danube basin but after this retract back up into the steppes and eventually are phased out as Sarmatians et al assume greater control and Celts occupy the farther western areas. Some believe that the Scythians eventually reformed and became what we call the Huns, though that's very iffy.
 
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