The chapter examines the processes of transition to the Neolithic, barbaric type of societies with division into ethnicities and races. The author pays special attention to the complex interrelationship of migration, settlement, changing forms of violence, coercion, hierarchies, as well as the changing nature of rituals and mentality. It outlines the main positions in the heated debate about the level of violence in pre-state societies. The chapter presents the general mechanism for the emergence of the main Neolithic types of technology, including agriculture, herding, weaving, metallurgy, and pottery. Complementary and even game practices became the main ones under the changed conditions and developed intensively. Significant demographic growth was both an important factor and a consequence of the Neolithic Revolution. The author presents markers of ethnicity and the principal models of ethnogenesis. The chapter reveals the interrelation of such phenomena as the invention of storage technologies, the development of fortifications, military organization, the spread of polygamy, social inequality, and economic exploitation. The author constructs sketchy dynamic models of the interrelation of the factors of formation and development of barbarian orders with the main results in the spheres of politics, economy, culture, and mentality. These processes also included ethnic mergers and splits related to homogeneity/diversity of lands as a basic determinant of initial ethnic development. The selection of social orders occurred both through warfare, with the elimination of losing orders, and through diffusion, with the imitation of successful ones. The chapter briefly presents the main stages of the transition from the early processes of sapient leveling to ethnic and racial differentiation. This era's unique mentality and ethnic rituals are highlighted. Finally, the author formulates theoretical hypotheses for the indirect verification of the above-mentioned arguments and theses.

错误:搜索内容不能为空,请输入英文关键词
错误:关键词超出字数限制,请精简
高级检索

From Wandering Groups to Barbarian Chiefdoms: Settlement, the Neolithic, Violence, and Ethnicity

  • Nikolai S. Rozov

摘要

The chapter examines the processes of transition to the Neolithic, barbaric type of societies with division into ethnicities and races. The author pays special attention to the complex interrelationship of migration, settlement, changing forms of violence, coercion, hierarchies, as well as the changing nature of rituals and mentality. It outlines the main positions in the heated debate about the level of violence in pre-state societies. The chapter presents the general mechanism for the emergence of the main Neolithic types of technology, including agriculture, herding, weaving, metallurgy, and pottery. Complementary and even game practices became the main ones under the changed conditions and developed intensively. Significant demographic growth was both an important factor and a consequence of the Neolithic Revolution. The author presents markers of ethnicity and the principal models of ethnogenesis. The chapter reveals the interrelation of such phenomena as the invention of storage technologies, the development of fortifications, military organization, the spread of polygamy, social inequality, and economic exploitation. The author constructs sketchy dynamic models of the interrelation of the factors of formation and development of barbarian orders with the main results in the spheres of politics, economy, culture, and mentality. These processes also included ethnic mergers and splits related to homogeneity/diversity of lands as a basic determinant of initial ethnic development. The selection of social orders occurred both through warfare, with the elimination of losing orders, and through diffusion, with the imitation of successful ones. The chapter briefly presents the main stages of the transition from the early processes of sapient leveling to ethnic and racial differentiation. This era's unique mentality and ethnic rituals are highlighted. Finally, the author formulates theoretical hypotheses for the indirect verification of the above-mentioned arguments and theses.