Warrior

Warrior
A warrior is a person specializing in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based warrior culture society that recognizes a separate warrior aristocracy, class, or caste.
History
Warriors seem to have been present in the earliest pre-state societies. Scholars have argued that horse-riding Yamnaya warriors from the Pontic–Caspian steppe played a key role during the Indo-European migrations and the diffusion of Indo-European languages across Eurasia. Most of the basic weapons used by warriors appeared before the rise of most hierarchical systems. Bows and arrows, clubs, spears, swords, and other edged weapons were in widespread use. However, with the new findings of metallurgy, the aforementioned weapons had grown in effectiveness.
When the first hierarchical systems evolved 5000 years ago, the gap between the rulers and the ruled had increased. Making war to extend the outreach of their territories, rulers often forced men from lower orders of society into the military role. That had been the first use of professional soldiers, a distinct difference from the warrior communities.
The warrior ethic in many societies later became the preserve of the ruling class. Egyptian pharaohs would depict themselves in war chariots, shooting at enemies, or smashing others with clubs. Fighting was considered a prestigious activity but only when associated with status and power. European mounted knights would often feel contempt for the foot soldiers recruited from lower classes. In Mesoamerican societies of pre-Columbian America, the elite aristocratic soldiers remained separated from the lower classes of stone-throwers. The samurai were the hereditary military nobility and officer caste of Japan from the 12th to the late 19th century.
In contrast to the beliefs of the caste and clan-based warrior, who saw war as a place to attain valor and glory, warfare was a practical matter that could change the course of history. History always showed that men of lower orders would almost always outfight warrior elites through an individualistic and humble approach to war if they were practically organized and equipped. That was the approach of the Roman legions, which had only the incentive of promotion, as well as a strict level of discipline. When Europe's standing armies of the 17th and the 18th centuries developed, discipline was at the core of their training. Officers had the role of transforming men that they viewed as lower class to become reliable fighting men.
Inspired by the Ancient Greek ideals of the 'citizen soldier', many European societies during the Renaissance began to incorporate conscription and raise armies from the general populace. A change in attitude was noted as well, as officers were told to treat their soldiers with moderation and respect. For example, men who fought in the American Civil War often elected their own officers. With the mobilization of citizens in the armies sometimes reaching the millions, societies often made efforts in order to maintain or revive the warrior spirit. That trend continues to the modern day. Due to the heroic connotations of the term "warrior", this metaphor is especially popular in publications advocating or recruiting for a country's military.
Warrior cultures
Assyrians
Akinji
Al-Haras
Amazons
Anglo-Saxons
Apache
Armatoloi
Ashigaru
Aswaran
Balija
Batavi
Berserker
Bogatyr
Boxers
Boyars
Carthaginian
Cataphract
Celts
Cheyenne
Chamar
Comanche
Comitatus
Condottieri
Cossacks
Crusader
Curetes
Curonians
Dacians
Dahomey Amazons
Dog soldier
Druids
Druzhina
Eagle warrior
Eso Ikoyi
Eight Banners
Fianna
Gabiniani
Gallowglass
Gargareans
Ghazi
Gladiator
Gujjar
Gurkha
Hajduks
Harii
Hashashin
Hersir
Herules
Hessian
Highlander
Hippeis
Hird
Hoplite
Hospitaller
Housecarl
Hulubalang
Huns
Hyksos
Hwarang
Immortals
Impi
Jats
Janissary
Jaguar Warrior
Jinyiwei
Karaiyar
Karava
Kassites
Kheshig
Kipchaks
Klephts
Knights
Knights Templar
Kshatriya
Kshetri
Ligures
Leidang
Maccabees
Macedonians
Maharlika
Mangudai
Mamluk
Māori people
Maravar
Maratha
Mongols
Morlachs
Moro People
Medjay
Mesedi
Mingghan
Mukkuvar
Nair
Nakh peoples
Ninja/Kunoichi
Normans
Numerus Batavorum
Onna-musha
Ontari
Optimatoi
Pirates
Quilombo
Rajput
Red Lantern Sect
Reddy
Romans
Ror
Rus' people
Saini
Samurai
Scordisci
Scythians
Seminole
Sengunthar
Shaolin
Shieldmaiden
Sioux
Sikh
Khalsa
Nihang
Sipahi
Sohei
Somatophylakes
Spartan
Telaga
Teutonic Knights
Thingmen
Timawa
Triballi
Trojans
Uskoks
Valkyrie
Varangian Guard
Velir or Vellalar
Vikings
Virago
Voynuks
White Lotus Sect
Zulu warriors
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See also
Endemic warfare
Deadliest Warrior
Honour
Martial races
Soldier
Warg
Women warriors in literature and culture
References
Bibliography
Ayvazyan A. "The Code of Honor of the Armenian Military (4-5th centuries)" (2000).
Shannon E. French, Code of the Warrior - Exploring Warrior Values Past and Present (2003).
External links
Roman Warriors: The Myth of the Military Machine
Anthropology
Combat occupations
Social classes
Social divisions
Stock characters
Warrior code
Gendered occupations
Men's social titles
Western (genre) staples and terminology