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It's a valid notion but is it supported by evidence? Supporting evidence would be evidence of periodic burning of villages because that's what warlords do to pe
by temporarely 2y ago
It's a valid notion but is it supported by evidence? Supporting evidence would be evidence of periodic burning of villages because that's what warlords do to peaceful settlements.
Also it is likely that the notion of "elites" is different in our age than in the era before the invention of money. Our elites are not elites of mind, soul, or even body. They are sitting on their hordes of extracted wealth. Earlier any sort of elites in an agrarian society (which presumably precludes strongmen type of "elite") would likely be based on group psychology and charismatic power (shaman, priests, divine representative, etc.)
- Trow839rn 2y ago> be evidence of periodic burning of villages because that's what warlords do to peaceful settlements Not really. Look at "pax Romana" or Aztecs. Warlords bring peace! If villages are part of the same empire, they are at peace. Without central force there is constant local bickering and fight. Warlords take their tributes (including soldiers) and wage war far away. Or they punish population by killing one man in family. There is no need to burn entire village, it hurts profit. People at that time were able to build huge megalithic structures. It is safe to assume they could organise small army of a few thousands (enough to dominate 20k settlements).
- defrost 2y ago> periodic burning of villages because that's what warlords do to peaceful settlements. Or not. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burned_house_horizon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burned_house_horizon There's sparse evidence for exposure to archaeological literature.
- navane 2y agoI can see the evolution of roving bands who pillage and burn, to roving bands who suppress and extract, to roving bands who tax and collect.