“Encircling Hunts” as an Indicator of Social Layer in Steppe Societies

Eray Amasya; Derviş Ulaşhan Eraslan

Article Details

“Encircling Hunts” as an Indicator of Social Layer in Steppe Societies

Authors:

Eray Amasya | Derviş Ulaşhan Eraslan

Publisher:

Hacettepe University

Main Topics:

Sosyoloji (Diğer)

Journal:

Hacettepe Üniversitesi Türkiyat Araştırmaları (HÜTAD) Issue 39, pp.241-259

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001304023

pISSN:

1305-5992

Keywords:

Abstract:

 From the beginning of time, hunting transpassed its existential phase to develop into an activity affecting the economic, political, social and cultural characteristics of human communities. Apart from being an important activity socially, in steppe societies, hunting became a medium influencing the relationship between ruler and ruled. In steppe societies, encircling hunt became a marker of administration, which symbolizes power and capability. Moreover, encircling hunt functions to design and determine social status. This study evaluates the understanding of power and its legitimization in steppe societies and utilizes encircling hunt as social symbol affecting the formation of social structures and their connection with charismatic authority as well as its role in the formation of social strata; power relations, social capital and the meaning attributed to the leader of the steppe societies. While the leader is evaluated as an indicator of the existence of charismatic authority, the utility of commanders and nobles during an encircling hunt is analyzed in terms of power and status relations. Hunting and sharing of meat after hunting, social capital and differentiation between social strata in steppe societies are also examined. Thus the study draws conclusions from social behaviour during encircling hunting that can explain sociologically the charismatic authority of the leader, and the rules and ceremonies in steppe societies.

 From the beginning of time, hunting transpassed its existential phase to develop into an activity affecting the economic, political, social and cultural characteristics of human communities. Apart from being an important activity socially, in steppe societies, hunting became a medium influencing the relationship between ruler and ruled. In steppe societies, encircling hunt became a marker of administration, which symbolizes power and capability. Moreover, encircling hunt functions to design and determine social status. This study evaluates the understanding of power and its legitimization in steppe societies and utilizes encircling hunt as social symbol affecting the formation of social structures and their connection with charismatic authority as well as its role in the formation of social strata; power relations, social capital and the meaning attributed to the leader of the steppe societies. While the leader is evaluated as an indicator of the existence of charismatic authority, the utility of commanders and nobles during an encircling hunt is analyzed in terms of power and status relations. Hunting and sharing of meat after hunting, social capital and differentiation between social strata in steppe societies are also examined. Thus the study draws conclusions from social behaviour during encircling hunting that can explain sociologically the charismatic authority of the leader, and the rules and ceremonies in steppe societies.

 From the beginning of time, hunting transpassed its existential phase to develop into an activity affecting the economic, political, social and cultural characteristics of human communities. Apart from being an important activity socially, in steppe societies, hunting became a medium influencing the relationship between ruler and ruled. In steppe societies, encircling hunt became a marker of administration, which symbolizes power and capability. Moreover, encircling hunt functions to design and determine social status. This study evaluates the understanding of power and its legitimization in steppe societies and utilizes encircling hunt as social symbol affecting the formation of social structures and their connection with charismatic authority as well as its role in the formation of social strata; power relations, social capital and the meaning attributed to the leader of the steppe societies. While the leader is evaluated as an indicator of the existence of charismatic authority, the utility of commanders and nobles during an encircling hunt is analyzed in terms of power and status relations. Hunting and sharing of meat after hunting, social capital and differentiation between social strata in steppe societies are also examined. Thus the study draws conclusions from social behaviour during encircling hunting that can explain sociologically the charismatic authority of the leader, and the rules and ceremonies in steppe societies.

 İnsanlığın ilk zamanlarından beri avcılık toplumların ekonomik, siyasi, sosyal ve kültürel karakterlerini belirleyecek kadar etkili bir faaliyet olmuştur. Avcılık sosyal anlamda halk tabanında geniş bir yer bulan aktivite olmakla birlikte, bozkır toplumlarında yöneten ve yönetilen ilişkisinin de bir aracı olmuştur. Bozkır toplumlarında halka avı, gücü sembolize eden iktidarın bir göstergesi olmuştur. Bununla birlikte halka avları, toplumsal statüyü dizayn etme işlevi görmüştür. Bu çalışma, toplumsal yapının oluşmasında sosyal semboller olarak bozkır toplumlarında iktidar ile iktidarın meşrulaştırılması bağlamında karizmatik otorite ve toplumsal tabakaların oluşması süreçlerini halka avları esasında değerlendirmektedir. Çalışmanın amacı, bozkır toplumlarında halka avlarının toplumsal tabaka ve sosyal sermaye üzerindeki rolünü ortaya koymaktır. Araştırmanın kapsamı bağlamında bozkır toplumlarının iktidar ilişkileri, sosyal sermayeleri ve lidere atfedilen anlam, halka avları bağlamında değerlendirilmiştir. Halka avında lider, karizmatik otoritenin göstergesi olarak ele alınırken, av sırasında komutanlar ve soyluların göstermiş olduğu yararlılık ise iktidar ve sosyal statü ilişkileri bağlamında ele alınmıştır. Çalışmada avlanma ve av sonrası etin paylaşımı, halka avları bağlamında iktidar, otorite, sosyal sermaye ve sosyal tabakalar arası farklılaşmanın bozkır toplumlarındaki yansıması üzerinde durulmuştur. Bu bağlamda bozkır toplumlarında halka avlarının sosyal tabakalar, sosyal sermaye ilişkileri ve liderin karizmatik otoritesi üzerinde belirleyici bir araç olduğu ayrıca halka avları çerçevesinde ortaya çıkan kural ve törenlerin de toplumsal tabaka ilişkileri açısından önem arz ettiği anlaşılmıştır.

Article Details

“Encircling Hunts” as an Indicator of Social Layer in Steppe Societies

Authors:

Eray Amasya | Derviş Ulaşhan Eraslan

Publisher:

Hacettepe University

Main Topics:

Sosyoloji (Diğer)

Journal:

Hacettepe Üniversitesi Türkiyat Araştırmaları (HÜTAD) Issue 39, pp.241-259

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001304023

pISSN:

1305-5992

Encircling hunt

power

charismatic authority

social stratum

social capital

steppe societiesHalka avı

iktidar

karizmatik otorite

sosyal tabaka

sosyal sermaye

bozkır toplumları

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Eray Amasya | Derviş Ulaşhan Eraslan

Publisher: Hacettepe University

Main Topics: Sosyoloji (Diğer)

Journal: Hacettepe Üniversitesi Türkiyat Araştırmaları (HÜTAD) Issue 39, pp.241-259

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 7/2023

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001304023

pISSN: 1305-5992

Issues

Authors:

Eray Amasya | Derviş Ulaşhan Eraslan

Publisher:

Hacettepe University

Main Topics:

Sosyoloji (Diğer)

Journal:

Hacettepe Üniversitesi Türkiyat Araştırmaları (HÜTAD) Issue 39, pp.241-259

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001304023

pISSN:

1305-5992