So, I saw The Eagle

[Tsyal Makto]

The Yanomami are actually a bit of an exception. In most cases endemic warfare was nothing more than a low-scale ritual, with minimal death. At least, that's how things were in most of North America and Africa (the kingdoms don't count).

The Arab World has played a big part in destroying tribal societies, as well. Muslim imperialism is the reason Darfur is in such a state of conflict today. Before the arrival of the Arabs, Darfurians had a thriving society.

[Ashen Key]

Originally Posted by Tsyal Makto

The Yanomami are actually a bit of an exception. In most cases endemic warfare was nothing more than a low-scale ritual, with minimal death. At least, that's how things were in most of North America and Africa (the kingdoms don't count).

Correction: The Yanamai are only an exception because they are well known. The same figures and types of warfare is found in the archeological evidence, and in numerous studies done on tribal societies - including the foraging !Kung San, Inuit and Australian aboriginies, and then the tribal farmers of the Yanomami and the pig-and-yam cultivating societies of New Guinea. Yes, not many people are killed per raid, but the raiding is constant, and usually the only time prisoners are taken is to kill them later.

Originally Posted by Tsyal Makto

The Arab World has played a big part in destroying tribal societies, as well. Muslim imperialism is the reason Darfur is in such a state of conflict today. Before the arrival of the Arabs, Darfurians had a thriving society.

...yes, because the Middle East never had any wars before the arrival of a single religion in the 600s. No empires, no civilizations marking their mark, no tribal societies with frequent fighting even though humans have been living there for 50,000 years and is known as the cradle of civilization. No tribes or clans still living as they always have done, just now Muslim. And also, that comment on Darfur is misleading - as far as I can tell, it has been stable and unstable for a very long time. Like most places.

[Tsyal Makto]

Originally Posted by Ashen Key

Correction: The Yanamai are only an exception because they are well known. The same figures and types of warfare is found in the archeological evidence, and in numerous studies done on tribal societies - including the foraging !Kung San, Inuit and Australian aboriginies, and then the tribal farmers of the Yanomami and the pig-and-yam cultivating societies of New Guinea. Yes, not many people are killed per raid, but the raiding is constant, and usually the only time prisoners are taken is to kill them later.

If that's the case, then all modern humanity has done is reverse the trend. We've gone from frequent conflict - low casualty warfare, to less frequent - high casualty warefare.

Though I think we're not discussing the same group. You're talking about agriculturalist groups, I'm talking about hunter-gatherer groups. Yes, agriculture made people more war-like, due to the need to acquire land for cultivation. Nomadic tendencies of hunter-gatherers reduced the possibility of squabbling over land.

http://news.infoshop.org/article.php...90623174612635

Originally Posted by Ashen Key

...yes, because the Middle East never had any wars before the arrival of a single religion in the 600s. No empires, no civilizations marking their mark, no tribal societies with frequent fighting even though humans have been living there for 50,000 years and is known as the cradle of civilization. No tribes or clans still living as they always have done, just now Muslim. And also, that comment on Darfur is misleading - as far as I can tell, it has been stable and unstable for a very long time. Like most places.

Better than it's doing now. I forgot exactly what Thom Hartmann said, but I'll see if I can track down another copy of Threshold on the net.