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Militarism and the Indo-Europeanizing of Europe
This book argues that the Indo-Europeanizing of Europe essentially began shortly before 1600 BC, when lands rich in natural resources were taken over by military forces from the Eurasian steppe and from southern Caucasia. First were the copper and silver mines (along with good harbors) in Greece, and the copper and gold mines of the Carpathian basin. By ca. 1500 BC other military men had taken over the amber coasts of Scandinavia and the metalworking district of the southern Alps. These military takeovers offer the most likely explanations for the origins of the Greek, Keltic, Germanic and Italic subgroups of the Indo-European language family. Battlefield warfare and militarism, Robert Drews contends, were novelties ca. 1600 BC and were a consequence of the military employment of chariots. Current opinion is that militarism and battlefield warfare are as old as formal states, going back before 3000 BC. Another current opinion is that the Indo-Europeanizing of Europe happened long before 1600 BC. The "Kurgan theory" of Marija Gimbutas and David Anthony dates it from late in the fifth to early in the third millennium BC and explains it as the result of horse-riding conquerors or raiders coming to Europe from the steppe. Colin Renfrew’s Archaeology and Language dates the Indo-Europeanizing of Europe to the seventh and sixth millennia BC, and explains it as a consequence of the spread of agriculture in a "wave of advance" from Anatolia through Europe. Pairing linguistic with archaeological evidence Drews concludes that in Greece and Italy, at least, no Indo-European language could have arrived before the second millennium BC.
294 pages, Hardcover
Published May 16, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 15, 2024
Robert Drews' books are truly wonderful. I have read all of them and they all leave a great impact because author is always updating his original stand on events in history that have been confirmed or disapproved by latest findings since his last book on the subject. This openness and also very clear comments on other theories [author also goes through statements of critics of his own works in scientific world] is what makes author's books truly a joy to read.
Being a layman when it comes to the subject I do get lost from time to time in the various acronyms and shorthand time period id's. Author nevertheless manages to make the book highly readable and enables the reader to navigate through various ancient societies, archaeological findings and theories.
Ancient world (especially up to "great catastrophe" in 1177 BC (or around that time)) is fascinating world. I was always under impression that [late] Greece and Rome were the peak of the ancient world and that all states[??] of the early periods were very much isolated from each other (for some reason Egyptians I always considered side-players since they were never directly involved in European area of Mediterranean Sea, unlike Greeks and Romans that were very aggressive with colonizing the coast; latest books I have read show, on the contrary, that Near East played (and still does) a tremendous role in the world).
What author presents is that even in 2000 BC people in Eurasia were extremely well connected. Goods and technology flowed from one place to another (amber flowing from North to Adriatic or various tin mines that provided lots of ore but to unknown destinations), trading and exchange of ideas were very much active. In this vibrant world hiring of specialists from the other parts of the world (like Umman Manda but also from Caucasus and Black Sea area), started the spread of new tamed animals (horses in particular) and new technology (first of all metallurgy (basis for swords, spear and arrow tips and armor), followed then by chariots and then by proper bridle and rein, and what would be equivalent of strategic assets in form of long ships and special large barges for horse transports [discussion on this subject was one more gold nugget to be found in this book]). All of this was not so much different from our times (of course at much slower [but again not so slow] pace).
I was surprised by author's comments that majority of scientists working in this field decided to completely put aside the military aspect of the history for ridiculous reasons (abhorrence of war, in order not to glorify it???? I mean what? If you talk about it you glorify it? Dear me....) and acceptance of peaceful-only spread of all of the new technology. This [for me] sheds more light on what happens today [scientific community treating everyone else as idiots who need to be protected from knowledge so they start pandering the people and make them actual idiots] but, in terms of research, makes absolutely no sense at all. History shows that almost all inventions first find martial application and then civilian - it was case in the past, it is the case today. Even if war as we define it did not exist in these old European societies, to think there was no violence, vendettas, large scale massacres and destruction is to be stupid. As author says it is required to research more in line of conflict and warfare of the times because this will explain the events of the past more correctly. This is very well depicted when it comes to horses - primarily tamed for food, horses soon started to be used as labor animals and then they became the primary drive of the newly evolving combat chariot and in general cavalry. And this in turn started the creation of various horse breeds. We are now looking at horses in a way that very idea of using them as food source sounds weird. But without understanding why the horses were tamed in the first place, it is very difficult to figure out how they started to be used in a way we see them today almost exclusively (people copy what they see in the world and there are no examples of animals riding each other - it takes a while to experiment and try new things).
Also author challenges ideas of using chariots as troop transport vehicles only - and I have to agree. To think that in something as cruel, devastating and unforgiving as warfare any side would decide to let go of the advantages of high speed ranged missile system is ridiculous. While maybe not considered heroic as foot troops with spears and swords [will be treated], archers always played a vital part (especially in the Near East and even late Greece - while hoplites did not use bows and arrows, hired mercenary troops did (same applies to Roman's auxilia)). This also explains evolution of the bow and multitudes of arrows found at burial sites.
Chapters on sword evolution are also very detailed and interesting. What basically started as a ceremonious weapon/tool became a very practical and deadly weapon in span of just a century or two.
And this is what brings us to the subject of the book.
Author shows [with what data is available, and again lots of research is still pending, especially in Southern Caucasus] the role Indo-European people (from the Black Sea steppe and [as author notes most probably initial wave came] from the southern Caucasus) played in development of Europe. First hired as specialists (again note the military role) by various kingdoms in Anatolia, Near East and by Minoan/Mycenaean rulers, then returning as conquerors (just imagine for that time fascinating fleets and armies led by horses and chariots with fully armed warriors coming to the lands that had at best police like enforcers) and finally settling in the temperate parts of Europe (from Greece, Italy to Scandinavia) as a ruling [military] elite, these people spread the technology, but also the language and customs. This way they, when mixed with the people from the given area, created the base from which modern European languages will spring out (I found the discussion on similarities between Greek and Armenian language absolutely fantastic). Eurasian steppe was and will remain the main gateway through which various people and nations will continue to affect the Europe itself, but this early period was a crucial moment in development of European people [and future nations].
Reasons for conquering have also developed from author's previous books - while previously land itself was seen as prize, latest findings show that goal seemed to be control of trading routes and mines that conquerors became acquainted with while serving the local rulers (since fertile land was available in abundance it was hardly the primary goal). In other words goals for conquering are same as for any epoch - riches and profit. Longevity of the conqueror's presence in the area is then determined by how well do conquerors get assimilated into local populace.
Book is concentrated on the developments in Europe but it does touch (albeit briefly) on the effect Indo-Europeans had on India and neighboring areas.
Excellent book, highly recommended (as are all author's books).
Being a layman when it comes to the subject I do get lost from time to time in the various acronyms and shorthand time period id's. Author nevertheless manages to make the book highly readable and enables the reader to navigate through various ancient societies, archaeological findings and theories.
Ancient world (especially up to "great catastrophe" in 1177 BC (or around that time)) is fascinating world. I was always under impression that [late] Greece and Rome were the peak of the ancient world and that all states[??] of the early periods were very much isolated from each other (for some reason Egyptians I always considered side-players since they were never directly involved in European area of Mediterranean Sea, unlike Greeks and Romans that were very aggressive with colonizing the coast; latest books I have read show, on the contrary, that Near East played (and still does) a tremendous role in the world).
What author presents is that even in 2000 BC people in Eurasia were extremely well connected. Goods and technology flowed from one place to another (amber flowing from North to Adriatic or various tin mines that provided lots of ore but to unknown destinations), trading and exchange of ideas were very much active. In this vibrant world hiring of specialists from the other parts of the world (like Umman Manda but also from Caucasus and Black Sea area), started the spread of new tamed animals (horses in particular) and new technology (first of all metallurgy (basis for swords, spear and arrow tips and armor), followed then by chariots and then by proper bridle and rein, and what would be equivalent of strategic assets in form of long ships and special large barges for horse transports [discussion on this subject was one more gold nugget to be found in this book]). All of this was not so much different from our times (of course at much slower [but again not so slow] pace).
I was surprised by author's comments that majority of scientists working in this field decided to completely put aside the military aspect of the history for ridiculous reasons (abhorrence of war, in order not to glorify it???? I mean what? If you talk about it you glorify it? Dear me....) and acceptance of peaceful-only spread of all of the new technology. This [for me] sheds more light on what happens today [scientific community treating everyone else as idiots who need to be protected from knowledge so they start pandering the people and make them actual idiots] but, in terms of research, makes absolutely no sense at all. History shows that almost all inventions first find martial application and then civilian - it was case in the past, it is the case today. Even if war as we define it did not exist in these old European societies, to think there was no violence, vendettas, large scale massacres and destruction is to be stupid. As author says it is required to research more in line of conflict and warfare of the times because this will explain the events of the past more correctly. This is very well depicted when it comes to horses - primarily tamed for food, horses soon started to be used as labor animals and then they became the primary drive of the newly evolving combat chariot and in general cavalry. And this in turn started the creation of various horse breeds. We are now looking at horses in a way that very idea of using them as food source sounds weird. But without understanding why the horses were tamed in the first place, it is very difficult to figure out how they started to be used in a way we see them today almost exclusively (people copy what they see in the world and there are no examples of animals riding each other - it takes a while to experiment and try new things).
Also author challenges ideas of using chariots as troop transport vehicles only - and I have to agree. To think that in something as cruel, devastating and unforgiving as warfare any side would decide to let go of the advantages of high speed ranged missile system is ridiculous. While maybe not considered heroic as foot troops with spears and swords [will be treated], archers always played a vital part (especially in the Near East and even late Greece - while hoplites did not use bows and arrows, hired mercenary troops did (same applies to Roman's auxilia)). This also explains evolution of the bow and multitudes of arrows found at burial sites.
Chapters on sword evolution are also very detailed and interesting. What basically started as a ceremonious weapon/tool became a very practical and deadly weapon in span of just a century or two.
And this is what brings us to the subject of the book.
Author shows [with what data is available, and again lots of research is still pending, especially in Southern Caucasus] the role Indo-European people (from the Black Sea steppe and [as author notes most probably initial wave came] from the southern Caucasus) played in development of Europe. First hired as specialists (again note the military role) by various kingdoms in Anatolia, Near East and by Minoan/Mycenaean rulers, then returning as conquerors (just imagine for that time fascinating fleets and armies led by horses and chariots with fully armed warriors coming to the lands that had at best police like enforcers) and finally settling in the temperate parts of Europe (from Greece, Italy to Scandinavia) as a ruling [military] elite, these people spread the technology, but also the language and customs. This way they, when mixed with the people from the given area, created the base from which modern European languages will spring out (I found the discussion on similarities between Greek and Armenian language absolutely fantastic). Eurasian steppe was and will remain the main gateway through which various people and nations will continue to affect the Europe itself, but this early period was a crucial moment in development of European people [and future nations].
Reasons for conquering have also developed from author's previous books - while previously land itself was seen as prize, latest findings show that goal seemed to be control of trading routes and mines that conquerors became acquainted with while serving the local rulers (since fertile land was available in abundance it was hardly the primary goal). In other words goals for conquering are same as for any epoch - riches and profit. Longevity of the conqueror's presence in the area is then determined by how well do conquerors get assimilated into local populace.
Book is concentrated on the developments in Europe but it does touch (albeit briefly) on the effect Indo-Europeans had on India and neighboring areas.
Excellent book, highly recommended (as are all author's books).
July 20, 2023
It's complementary with "The Horse, the Wheel and Language" but devoid of it's politically driven mistakes. Better, more honest but should be read alongside "The Horse..." for better understanding of the subject
August 31, 2025
“What is fairly clear is that in the middle centuries of the second millennium BC four parts of Europe were suddenly militarized by men who had, among other things, horse drawn chariots.”
December 30, 2022
Across Europe and the Near East the utilisation of the horse and chariot brought waves of both violent and bloodless conquests. Warlords and kings replaced priests and shamans as the chiefs. An emerging warrior elite broke the old hierarchies and transformed warfare from its outdated, conscription-based siege tactics.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews