Egalitarian and Hierarchical Societies of Early Nomads in the Eurasian Steppe and Congruent Types of Their Military Organisation

Abstract. The article analyzes the political and military organization of the early nomads in the Eurasian steppe using archaeological and written sources. Special attention is given to the Scythians and Sarmatians. The evidences of ancient authors as well as comparable ethnographic materials are used in the research.
In the nomad society two trends can be distinguished - equality (tribal organization) and hierarchy (formation of hierarchy and elitist culture: chiefdoms, nomadic Empires). The article concerns with war institutions and their relationship with the political organization of nomads. We also examine the emergence of military organization, based on the age system, which was widely spread in the early societies. The article suggests that this form of military organization is typical for the Scythian and Sarmatian nomads, and is a natural basis for the organization of the tribe’s militia.

Keywords: early nomads, Eurasian steppe, political and military organization, chiefdom, tribe, pseudo-hierarchy, nomadic Empire, Scythians, Sarmatians, age and sex organization, male unions.