Blood of the Leviathan: Western contact and warfare in Amazonia

Abstract

This article argues that reported wars among Native peoples of Amazonia are not representative of pre‐Columbian warfare. The well‐known cases that are the bases for our conceptions of Amazonian warfare, as well as dozens of less prominent instances of war, can be attributed largely to circumstances created by the European intrusion. The broader implication is that anthropological theory and teaching about war are distorted by an unexamined premise that reported cases of war among nonstate or tribal peoples are self‐generated phenomena. [warfare, Amazonia, Western contact, anthropology and history, the Columbian encounter]

Cuatro destinos del guerrero: teorías de la guerra indígena en las tierras bajas sudamericanas

“…), son prácticamente inabarcables: ver por ej. Ferguson 1990Ferguson , 2001; Heinen e Illius 1996; Sahlins 2000.…”

“…¿Cómo entender el uso colonial de indígenas en tropas de "indios amigos" (los guaraníes en las expediciones de Alejo García, Irala, Cabeza de Vaca o Ñuflo de Chaves durante el siglo 16), en cuadros organizados en las milicias misionales o incluso como mercenarios (los mundurucú de la Amazonía)? (Susnik 1971,Susnik y Chase-Sardi 1995,Ferguson 1990, Carvalho 2002, Martínez 2012. ¿Peleaban entre ellos antes de la llegada de los españoles?…”

Does civilization cause discontentment among indigenous Amazonians? Test of empirical data from the Tsimane’ of Bolivia

“…The earliest trade with Europeans started in the 16th century, and centered on the exchange of metal tools and guns for slaves. Ferguson (1989Ferguson ( , 1990 documents how post-contact trade spawned internecine war between and within native Amazonian societies as groups of kin vied with each other to capture slaves to swap for metal tools and firearms from Westerners. The introduction of commercial goods increased economic inequalities within native Amazonian societies, which generated resentment and increased accusations of sorcery and violence.…”

Yanomami: An arena of conflict and aggression in the Amazon

“…On the other hand, for a mentalistic explanation so far there are only enticing hints from Lizot [1977, p 515;1994a, p 214]. For a brief review of theoretical explanations see Bodley [1994, pp 64-68], and for more extended discussions see Albert [1989Albert [ , 1990, Beckerman [1979Beckerman [ , 1994, Bower [1991], Chagnon [1980Chagnon [ , 1989cChagnon [ , 1990bChagnon [ , 1995Chagnon [ , 1996aChagnon [ , 1996b, Hames [1979, 1980], Crocker [1969], Durham [1976], Ferguson [1989aFerguson [ , 1989bFerguson [ , 1989cFerguson [ , 1990, Good [1987Good [ , 1995b, Gross [1975Gross [ , 1982, Hames [1980Hames [ , 1989, Harris [1984aHarris [ , 1984b, Lizot [1977Lizot [ , 1994a, Otterbein [1994aOtterbein [ , 1994b, J.B. Ross [1980], Ross and Ross [1980], Sponsel [1983Sponsel [ , 1986, and Vayda [1989].…”