Early Indo-European weapons terminology

Abstract

Nineteenth-century scholars saw the world of the Indo-Europeans in false dichotomies of pastoralism vs. agriculture, patriarchy vs. matriarchy and warriors vs. victims; slowly, but surely, archaeological and linguistic research are dispelling these myths. A comprehensive examination of the lexica of the IE languages reveals that many alleged weapon terms have no reliable IE etymology. Those that do, show that the distinction between tool and weapon was not sharply drawn. Others show typological features of non-IE origins. The majority of IE weapons evolved during the Bronze Age from agricultural implements and everyday tools. Rather than appearing on the scene as armed barbarians, the Indo-Europeans and the pre-IE populations of Eurasia were engaged in a Bronze Age weapons race in which the use of weapons became increasingly important for cultural survival. The task ahead of us will be to define the conditions in which this arms race became a necessity.