The Roots of Warfare

In his book "The Forge of Christendom", Tom Holland quotes a Norman poet who describes disturbing acts of violence committed by Vikings, including both heterosexual and homosexual gang rape, and mistreatment of captured people. This sheds light on the difficulty of stopping Viking assaults and highlights the enduring presence of raiding throughout history. Raiding is a subcategory of war, and its roots can be traced back to the primal conflicts observed among simians. Communities living near raiding societies had to defend themselves or risk being conquered. Defensive strategies, such as building tall abodes or walls, emerged as downstream adaptations to protect against raiders.