Why is it that Cavalry in medieval Europe was dominated by shock cavalry when cavalry in Asian countries was dominated by horse archers?

by TheDwarvenGuy

Is this just a generalization? I understand that there was some Asian shock cavalry and some European horse archers, but it always seems that they weren't as common as their counterparts.

(also note that when I say "Asian" I don't only mean east Asian and central asian, but also middle eastern groups too)

Derdiedas812

Well, heavily armoured shock cavalry was first recorded used by Parthian Empire in modern day Iran and it was their (and later Sasanian Empire) conflict with Rome that led Romans to create their own cataphracts.