Proto-Indo-European Society

[Faísca]

The Proto-Indo-Europeans (PIE) were a patrilineal society of the Bronze Age (roughly 5th or 4th millennium BC), probably semi-nomadic, relying on animal husbandry.

Societal Structure

The native name with which these people referred to themselves as a linguistic community, or as a ethnic unity of related tribes cannot be reconstructed with certainty. It may have been *aryo- (c. f. "Aryan race").

There is evidence for sacral kingship, suggesting the tribal king at the same time assumed the role of high priest. Many Indo-European societies know a threefold division of a clerical class, a warrior class and a class of farmers or husbandmen. Such a division was suggested for the Proto-Indo-European society by Georges Dumézil.

There was probably a separate class of warriors, consisting of young men that were yet unwed. They would have followed a separate warrior code unacceptable in the society outside their peer-group. Traces of initiation rites in several Indo-European societies suggest that this group identified itself with wolves or dogs (c. f. Berserker (viking), werewolf).

The people were organized in settlements (*weiks; english -wick "village"), probably each with its king (*rek's). These settlements or villages were further divided in households (dom), each headed by a patriarch (*demspati; greek despotes, latin dominus, sanskrit dampati).

Ritual and Sacrifice

They practiced a polytheistic religion centered on sacrificial rites, probably administered by a class of priests or shamans.

Animals were slaughtered and dedicated to the gods in the hope of winning their favour. The king as the high priest would have been the central figure in establishing favourable relations with the other world.

The Kurgan hypothesis suggests burials in barrows or tomb chambers. Important leaders would have been buried with their belongings, and possibly also with members of their household or wives (human sacrifice, suttee).

Poetry

Only small fragments of Proto-Indo-European poetry may be recovered. Apart from sacrificial hymns, there would have been myths (such as myths of a world tree and of the slaying of a serpent or a dragon by a heroic god). Probably of great importance was the extolling of heroic deeds of warriors, perpetuating their glory (*k'levos).

Philosophy

Some words conected with PIE world-view:

• *ghosti- concerned mutual obligations between people and between worshipers and gods, and from which guest and host are derived.
• *rtu-, rta-, "fitting, right, ordered", also "right time, ritually correct", related to the order of the world (Vedic rta-, rtu-)
• verdh- "grow, increase, prosper", also "right, true" (Greek orthos). Associated with fate in the sense of "that which comes to pass, that which evolves" (Old English wyrd, Norse Urd)

Subsistence

Proto-Indo-European society depended on animal husbandry. Cattle (*gwous) were the most important animals to them, and a man's wealth would be measured by the number of his cows. Sheep and goats were also kept, presumably by the less wealthy.

Agriculture and fishing were also practiced.

The domestication of the horse may have been an innovation of this people and is sometimes invoked as a factor contributing to their rapid expansion.

Technology

Technologically, reconstruction suggests a culture of the late Bronze Age: Bronze was used to make tools and weapons (*nsis). Gold and Silver were also known.

Judging by the vocabulary, techniques of weaving, plaiting, tying knots etc. were important and well-developed and used for textile production as well as for baskets, fences, walls etc. Weaving and binding also had a strong magical connotation, and magic is often expressed by such metaphors. The bodies of the deceased seem to have been literally tied to their graves to prevent their return.

The wheel (*kwekwlos) was known, certainly for ox-drawn carts, and late PIE warfare may also have made use of horse-drawn chariots.

[seanbam]

Quite an interesting article!

re word cow:
English cow/kine/bovine, German Kuh, Celtic bo, Minoan [lost], Greek bous, Roman bo(vi)s, Indian go/gauh, Iran gosh/geus, Sumerian/Akkadian gud, Egypt ka(ui), Hebrew goy(im), Maori kahui.
Note Goyim!

re origin of the tripartite caste system:
Noah's cursing of (?"Ham via") Canaan to be a slave, with Japheth dwelling in tents of Shem is the origin of the tripartite caste institution/tradition of the Aryans (code of Manu; Vedic flood survivor Manu (father of Sama/Scherma, Chama & [Pra-Jyapeti]) = Noah.)

(Similarily origin of pluralis majesticus "we" could be trinity?)

[kestutisturbo]

It's interesting, but it's just only the image sterting from the 5th millennium.

I've proposed the new model -

There are possible two approaches when solwing indoeuropean puzzle:

classic - postulating indoeuropean homeland and protolanguage, from where spreaded and splited indoeuropean people and rised nations

the new one - cultural model, denying 200 years old classic indoeuropean model and using paleogenetical information simply explaining how and when there appeared and spreaded indoeuropean similarities.

This model of Europe inhabitance consists of two main migrations:the first one - carriers of the VI genetical group (mutation M89) aproximately 35 000 years BC appeared alongside the northern mediterrainian coast neighbouring neanderthals and leaving some relicts in the Basque language aproximately 25 000 years BC the IX genetical group (mutation M173) entered Europe and spreaded from the Central Asia inhabiting lands free from Neanderthal for hunting and fishing. Later these populations where pressed into the sounthern direction by the iceland. The new lexical similarities appeared when technologies of agriculture, ceramic, farming, town building, metal crafting, trading rised and spreaded, starting some military activities. There is not necessary homeland and protolanguage postulating and definition for such the Cultural model of indoeuropean similarities

more -at Linguistics and Phylology

[Savorgnan]

First of all,what is "Proto-Indo-European"?Sounds very "Marija Gimbutas crap" to me...

[Cirrus]

Originally Posted by RegioX

First of all,what is "Proto-Indo-European"?Sounds very "Marija Gimbutas crap" to me...

Well, "proto" like the Greek -Protos, "first".

[Savorgnan]

Originally Posted by Salaün

Well, "proto" like the Greek -Protos, "first".

Thanks Salaün,it was a sarcasm (I'm often sarcatic) ..."Proto-Indo-European" means "before the Indo-Europeans",but was there anything before the higly hypothetical "arrival" of the even more hypotheticals Indo-Europeans?Archeologic research don't suggest any mass invasion in Europe. It sounds much more economical to think that local stone-age people became farmers,setting off their own demographic "explosion"...

[Racowie]

Originally Posted by Savorgnan

"Proto-Indo-European" means "before the Indo-Europeans",but was there anything before the higly hypothetical "arrival" of the even more hypotheticals Indo-Europeans?Archeologic research don't suggest any mass invasion in Europe. It sounds much more economical to think that local stone-age people became farmers,setting off their own demographic "explosion"...

Nicely said

There was no so called `great migration` according to newest scientific research. Paleolithic Continuity Theory, by Mario Alinei suggest exactly that scenario for Slavic expansion.

It would necessarily lead to conclusion that when we speak about Proto/Indo-Europeans, we in fact speak about Proto Slavs.

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Savorgnan

"Proto-Indo-European" means "before the Indo-Europeans"

Actually, that would be "Pre-Indo-European", in a full sense.

Proto-Indo-European refers to a prototype that would give origin to the Indo-Europeans. So before the I-Es too, but only in a sense.

[Savorgnan]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

Actually, that would be "Pre-Indo-European", in a full sense.

Proto-Indo-European refers to a prototype that would give origin to the Indo-Europeans. So before the I-Es too, but only in a sense.

Yes, thank you for correcting me. I'm always looking for (self) improvement. Until a few weeks ago, I mistaken sometimes "Proto" and "Pre-Indoeuropean". That's not the case anymore. It's now very clear in my mind that "Proto-Indoeuropean" is for the hypothetical people from whom later Indoeuropean peoples originated.

[Ostrogorski]

Well, all Indo-European societies, more-less, were consisted of 4 castes:

Bramans - priest-educational caste

Kshatryas - warrior-ruler caste

Vaishas - merchants, craftsmen, workers, agricultural workers

Shudras - people who's only goal in life was to satisfy basic needs, like eating, sleeping and sex.

In difference with the "modern" societies, this traditional society was based on spiritual vertical, not material. Good and successful Vaisha could be wealthier than a good Braman, but Braman would still be a role model to everyone.

[Marcus Marulus]

Originally Posted by Ostrogorski

Well, all Indo-European societies, more-less, were consisted of 4 castes:

Bramans - priest-educational caste

Kshatryas - warrior-ruler caste

Vaishas - merchants, craftsmen, workers, agricultural workers

Shudras - people who's only goal in life was to satisfy basic needs, like eating, sleeping and sex.

In difference with the "modern" societies, this traditional society was based on spiritual vertical, not material. Good and successful Vaisha could be wealthier than a good Braman, but Braman would still be a role model to everyone.

Seems like modern society makes a spiritual shudra out of everyone, or at least tries to.

[Errigal]

Originally Posted by Plethon

Seems like modern society makes a spiritual shudra out of everyone, or at least tries to.

A bit like the Proles in George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four.

[Marcus Marulus]

Originally Posted by Errigal

A bit like the Proles in George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Yes...a spiritual aristocracy is needed more than ever.

[Errigal]

Originally Posted by Plethon

Yes...a spiritual aristocracy is needed more than ever.

Very true, but I think the revitalizing of our "Kshatryas - warrior-ruler caste" is at least as important. It is the Equestrian Class that needs to be heard from.

[Marcus Marulus]

Although I generally don't agree with the Evolian worldview, maybe the Italian baron could give us some guide-lines:

Amazon.com: Ride the Tiger: A Survival Manual for the Aristocrats of the Soul: Books: Julius Evola,Joscelyn Godwin,Constance Fontana

Haven't yet read the book, planning to.

[Errigal]

Originally Posted by Plethon

Although I generally don't agree with the Evolian worldview, maybe the Italian baron could give us some guide-lines:

Amazon.com: Ride the Tiger: A Survival Manual for the Aristocrats of the Soul: Books: Julius Evola,Joscelyn Godwin,Constance Fontana

Haven't yet read the book, planning to.

I know almost nothing about Julius Evola. I can only remember reading his name here and there on the web but I didn't really have a look at any of his essays until very recently. He seems very much on target in what I read.