Rituals, Raids, and Masculinity: The Cultural Evolution of Warfare

Does war reward brotherhood and displace romance?

Men’s military heroism has shaped the course of cultural evolution. Battles were not just won by superior technology, but also by men’s readiness to lay down their lives. However, here we foresee a collective action problem, because the individually rational strategy is surely just to hide in a bush.

How did societies inspire male sacrifice and bravery?

And what did this mean for gender?

Drawing on research from economics, anthropology, and evolutionary biology, this essay explores war rituals, traumatic initiations, and fraternal bonds, before considering how declining warfare may impact gender equality.

To close, I offer some research ideas for brilliant minds!

Maasai Warriors Arriving at Eunoto Ceremony. Beckwith 1995. “The most demanding test that a Maasai warrior must face is the stalking and killing of a lion with only his wits and a spear to arm him. The lion’s-mane headdresses, orolawaru, worn to the ceremony by these warriors testify to their success.”

“During the Eunoto ceremony, warriors charge about the ceremonial circle, or manyatta, blowing long horns and carrying buffalo-hide shields. To carry such a shield, a warrior must have either killed a buffalo for the hide, an extremely dangerous feat, or received it as a gift from an older brother.’