ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF TIME, CALENDER AND DIRECTION CONCEPTS IN THE EARLY EURASIAN NOMADS (PART 1)

Year 2017, Volume: 4 Issue: 8, 1 - 14, 01.08.2017

Hasret Elçin Kürşat Coşkun

Abstract

The German sociologist Norbert Elias [1] is still not very well known in Turkey although he accomplished a remarkable synthesis of Freudian psychology, sociology and theory of state. According to Norbert Elias civilizational processes are directly interrelated with state-building processes. His paradigm is universally applicable because he tries to determine the structural peculiarity of social transformational processes through comparative method. In this article, I have tried to apply his civilizational model to the ancient nomads of Eurasia.
Central to his theory is his multilevelprocess modell which entails the following interdependent partial processes of social development. He calls these interdependent transformational processes triad of basic controls, which refers to the first three of the following processes:
1) The degree of control of individuals over their own emotions, affects and drives through the development of a super-ego which functions continuously, uniformly and encompasses all spheres of life. It is the outcome of the transformation of the psychic structure of humans with respect to the relationship between conscience and drive scope.
2) The degree of control over the nature, natural events, which stays in a direct relationship with the level of development of knowledge.
3) The state-building process, which means the attained level of monopolization of power and taxation through a central authority and its degree of control of groups–that is the distribution of power rates between intra-state groups (within the society).
4) Power rates between the states (or in pre-state periods between the units of political integration like tribes).
5) The level of development of lingual or other symbols which directly influences the way of thinking and feeling (e.g. science vs. myths and ideologies) of the capacity to a higher level of abstraction, of creating synthesis and of emotionally detached way of observing the world and the cosmos.

Keywords

CIVILIZATIONAL THEORY, EARLY EURASIAN NOMADS, CALENDER AND DIRECTION CONCEPTS

References

• AHLERS, I. (1987) “Überlegungen zum Hirtennomadismus und der Logik seiner Reichsgründungen” In: Mahrad, A. (Ed.) (1987) Hannoverische Studien über den Mittleren Osten Bd. 3, pp. 14-33. Frankfurt/Main, Bern, New York, Paris. ARAT, R.R., (1985) “Baburnâme-Babur ́un Hâtirati (Memorien von Babur)”, Ankara, p. 596. Bang, W. (1896) “Zu den Kök-Türk-Inschriften der Mongolei”, In: T’oung Pao VII, pp. 325-355. BANG, W., GABAİN A. v. (1931) “Aus buddhistischen Schriften: Türkische Tufan-Texte V”, In: Sitzungsberichte der Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Berlin, pp. 323-356. BANG, W., GABAİN A. v., ARAT R.R.(1972) “Türkische Tufan-Texte I”, Leipzig, p. 183 Binyazar, A. (no date given) “Dedem Korkut”, İstanbul. BREUER, S. (1990) “Der Archaische Staat – Zur Soziologie Charismatischer Herrschaft”, Berlin BURNHAM, P. (1979) “Spatial Mobility and Political Centralization in Pastoral Societies”, In: Pastoral Production and Society – Proceedings of the International Meeting on Nomadic Pastoralism. Cambridge, London, New York, Melbourne, pp. 349-360 CHAVANNES, E. (1903) “Documents sur les Tou-kiue (Turcs)”, Occidentaux, Paris CLAESSEN, HJM. (1978) “The Early State: A Structural Approach” In: Claessen, H.J.M., Seaton, S.L. (Ed.) The Early State. The Hague, pp. 533-596 ─ (1979) “The Balance of Power in Primitive States.” In Claessen, H.J.M., Seaton, S.L. h, Seaton, S.L. (Eds.) Political Anthropology – The State of the Art. The Hague, pp. 183-196 CLAESSEN, HJM. , SKALNIK, P. (1978) “The Early State” The Hague. CLAESSEN, HJM. , VAN DE VELDE, P. (1991) “The Early State Economics’ ‘New Brunswick. COHEN, R. (1978) “State Origins: A Reappraisal’ ‘In Claessen, HJM. , Skalnik, P. (Eds.) The Early State. The Hague, pp. 31-76. DE GROOT, J.J.M. (1921) “Die Hunnen der vorchristlichen Zeit. Chinesische Urkunden zur Geschichte Asiens”, Berlin, Leipzig. DİVİTÇİOĞLU, S. (1987). “Kök Türkler (Göktürken oder Köktürken)”, Istanbul EBERHARD, W. (1978). “China und seine westlichen Nachbarn”, Darmstadt ECSEDY, H. (1972) “Tribe and Tribal Society in the 6th Century Turk Empire” In: Ligeti, L. (Ed.) Acta Orientalia Academiae Hungaricae Thomus XXV., Budapest, pp. 245-262 ELIADE, M. (1987) “Turkic Religions” In the Encyclopedia of Religion Vol. 13. New York, pp.86-93. Hasret Elçin KÜRŞAT COŞKUN 9 ASEAD CİLT 4 SAYI 8 Yıl 2017, S 1-14 ELIAS N. (1977) “Zur Grundlegung einer Theorie sozialer Prozesse” In: Zeitschrift für Soziologie V. (6) Number 2, 128-148 ─ (2006) “The Court Society” edited by Stephen Mennell. Dublin: UCD Press. ─ (2007a) “An Essay on Time”, edited by Steven Loyal and Stephen Mennell. Dublin: UCD Press. ─ (2007b) “Involvement and Detachment”, edited by Stephen Quilley. Dublin: UCD Press. ─ (2008) “Quest for Excitement: Sport and Leisure in the Civilising Process”, by Norbert Elias and Eric Dunning, edited by Eric Dunning. Dublin: UCD Press. ─ (2009) “The Loneliness of the Dying and Humana Conditio”, edited by Alan and Brigitte Scott. Dublin: UCD Press. ─ (2010a) “Mozart, and Other Essays on Courtly Culture”, edited by Eric Baker and Stephen Mennell. Dublin: UCD Press. ─ (2010b) “The Society of Individuals”, edited by Robert van Krieken. Dublin: UCD Press. ─ (2011) “The Symbol Theory”, edited by Richard Kilminster. Dublin: UCD Press. Elias N. ─ (2012a) “On the Process of Civilization” [note new title], edited by Stephen Mennell, Eric Dunning, Johan Goudsblom and Richard Kilminster. Dublin: UCD Press. ─ (2012b) “What is Sociology? “ Edited by Artur Bogner, Katie Liston and Stephen Mennell. Dublin: UCD Press. ─ (2013) “Studies on the Germans” [note new title], edited by Stephen Mennell and Eric Dunning. Dublin: UCD Press. ELIAS N. and SCOTSON J. (2008). “The Established and the Outsiders”, edited by Cas Wouters: 19, 20, 22. Dublin: UCD Press. ERGİN, M. (1958) “Dede Korkut Kitabı (Dede Korkut Buch)”, Istanbul ESİN, E. (1980) “A History of Pre-Islamic and Early-Islamic Turkish Culture”, Istanbul FERENCZY, M. (1968) “Chinese Hstoriographers. Views on Barbarian-Chinese Relations (14th -16th C.).” In Acta Orientalia. Hungaricae XXI. pp. 353-362 GABAIN, A.V. (1953) “Inhalt und magische Bedeutung der alttürkischen Inschriften” In Anthropos 48 (1953), pp. 537-556 ─ (1955) “Alttürkische Datierungsformen” In Ural-Altaische Jahrbücher XXVII, Nr. 3/4. Hamburg, pp. 191-203. GLEICHMANN, P.R. (1988) “Zur historisch-soziologischen Psychologie von Norbert Elias” In Jüttemann, G. (Ed.) Wegbereiter der historischen Soziologie. München, Weinheim, pp. 451-462. GODELIER, M. (1982) “Zur Diskussion über den Staat, die Prozesse seiner Bildung und die Vielfalt seiner Formen und Grundlagen “ In Breuer, S., Treiber, H. (Eds.). Entstehung und die Strukturwandel des Staates. Opladen 1982, Pp. 18-35. GOLDSCHMIDT, W. (1979) “A General Model for Pastoral Social Systems” In Pastoral Production and Society – Proceedings of the International Meeting on Nomadic PAstoralism. Cambridge, London, New York, Melbourne, Pp. 15-28 HAENISCH, E. (Ed., Trans.) (1948) “Die Geheime Geschichte der Mongolen – Aus einer mongolischen Niederschrift des Jahres 1240” Leipzig HALLPIKE, Chr. R. (1984) “Die Grundlagen primitiven Denkens”, Stuttgart ASEAD CİLT 4 SAYI 8 Yıl 2017, S 1-14 Hasret Elçin KÜRŞAT COŞKUN 10
• Hambly, G. (Ed.) (1966) “Fischer Weltgeschichte” Vol. 16 – Zentralasien. Frankfurt/Main HASSAN, Ü. / BERKTAY, H. / ÖDEKAN, A. (1987) “Osmanlı Devletine Kadar Türkler 1. (Türken bis zum Osmanischen Reich)”, İstanbul İNAN, A. (1954) “Tarihte ve Bugün Şamanizm. Materyaller ve Araştırmalar (Shamanismus in der Geschichte und Heute. Materialien und Untersuchungen”, Ankara 1972. JETTMAR, K. (1966) “Die Entstehung der Reiternomaden “In Saeculum Nr. XVII (1966), pp. 1- 11 ─ (1980) “Die Frühen Steppenvölker – Der Eurasiatische Tierstil. Entstehung und sozialer Hintergrund”, Baden-Baden 1964 (Erstauflage) KAŞGARLI, M. (1939) “Divânü Lûgat’it-Türk” Ed. B. Atalay VIII, p. 251 KHAZANOV, A.M. (1978) “Characteristic Features of Nomadic Communities in the Eurasian Steppes” In: Weissleder, W. (Ed.) The Nomadic Alternative. The Hague, Paris 1978, pp. 119-126 ─ (1981) “The Early State Among the Eurasian Nomads” In Claessen, H.J.M., Skalnik P. (Eds.) The Study of the State. The Hague, 1981, pp. 155-176. KRADER, L. (1978) “The Origin of The State Among the Nomads of Asia” In Claessen H.J. Skalnik, P. (Eds.) The Early State. The Hague, pp. 43-108 ─ (1979) “The Origin of The State Among the Nomads of Asia” In Pastoral Production and Society – Proceedings of the International Meeting on Nomadic Pastoralism. Cambridge, London, New York, Melbourne, pp. 221-234 KURTZ D.V. (1981) “The Legitimation of Early Inchoate States” In: Claessen, H.J.M., Skalnik P. (Eds.) The Early State. The Hague, Paris pp. 177-200 KÜRŞAT-AHLERS, E. (1994) “Zur Frühen Staatenbildung von Steppenvölkern” Berlin, Duncker&Humblot KUSSMAUL, F. (1952/3) “Frühe Nomadenkulturen in Innerasien” In: Tribus NF 2/3. Tübingen pp. 305-360. KWANTEN, L. (1979) “Imperial Nomads. A History of Central Asia 500-1500”, Philadelphia MACKERRAS, C. (1968) “The Uighur Empire (744-840)”, Canberra MAENCHEN-HELFEN, O.J. (1978) “Die Welt der Hunnen”, Wien, Köln, Graz MAU-TSAI, L. (1958) “Die Chinesischen Nachrichten zur Geschichte der Ost-Türken (T’u-küe)”. Göttinger Asiatische Forschungen 10 Vol. 1. Wiesbaden McGOVERN, W.M. (1939) “The Early Empires of Central Asia”. Chapel Hill ÖGEL, B. (1984) “İslamiyetten Önce Türk Kültür Tarihi – Orta Asya Kaynak ve Buluntularına Göre (Türkische Kulturgeschichte vor dem Islam – Nach den Quellen und Funden in Mittelasien)”, Ankara OINAS, F.J. (1987) “Shamanism: An Overview” In Eliade, M. (Ed.) The Encyclopedia of Religion. Vol. 13. New York, pp. 201-207 Orkun, H.N. (1936-1941) “Eski Türk Yazıtları I-IV. (Alte türkische Inschriften)”, Istanbul OZOLS, J.T. (1983) “Zur Altersfrage des Schmanismus” In Duerr, H.P. (Ed.) Sehnsucht nach dem Ursprung. Frankfurt/Main 1983, pp. 137-160 ÖZTÜRK, A. (1973) “Ötüken Türk Kitabeleri (Ötüken Türkische Inschriften)”, Istanbul ASEAD CİLT 4 SAYI 8 Yıl 2017, S 1-14 Hasret Elçin KÜRŞAT COŞKUN 11
• Poppe, N. (1960) “Vergleichende Grammatik der altaischen Sprachen Teil 1: Vergleichende Lautlehre” Wiesbaden ─ (1965) “Introduction to Altaic Linguistics” Wiesbaden PRITSAK, O. (1952) “Stammesnamen und Titulaturen der Altaischen Völker” In Ural-Altaische Jahrbücher, Vol. XXIV, Nr. 1-2, Wiesbaden, Pp. 49-95 ─ (1953) “Der Untergang des Reiches des Oguzischen Yagbu” In Mélanges Fuad Köprülü (60. Doğum Yılı Münasebetiyle Fuad Köprülü Armağanı), Istanbul, Pp. 397-410 ─ (1954) “Die 24 Ta-ch’ên-Studie zur Geschichte des Verwaltungaufbaus der Hsiung-Nu-Reiche” In Oriens Extremus 1, Pp. 178-202 RADLOFF, W. (1894/9) “Die alttürkischen Inschriften der Mongolei I-III” (Reprinted Ed. St. Petersburg) Osnabrück 1987 RAMSTEDT, G.J. (1957) “Einführung in die Altaische Sprachwissenschaft” Nr. I Lautlehre und Nr. 2 Formenlehre. MSFO u 104:1 und 2 ROUX, J.P. (1987) “Tengri” In Eliade, M. (Ed.) The Encyclopedia of Religion. Nr. 13. New York, Pp. 401-403 SCHMIDT, P.W. (1949) “Der Ursprung der Gottesidee – Die asiatischen Hirtenvölker” Nr. IX. Freiburg (Schweiz), Münster SERVICE, E.R. (1977) “Ursprünge des Staates und der Zivilization – Der Prozess der kulturellen Evolution”, Frankfurt/Main SHIRATORI, K. (1929) “On the Territory of the Hsiung-Nu Prince Hsiu-Tu-Wang and his Metal Statues for Heaven-Worship” In Memoir of the Research Department of the Toyo Bunkio 1929- 36, Nr. 4-8. Tokyo, pp. 1-77. SIIKALA, A.L. (1987) “Shamanism: Siberian and Inner Asian Shamanism” Eliade, M. (Ed.) The Encylopedia of Religion, New York, pp. 208-215 SKALNIK, P. (1978) “The Early State as a Process” In Claessen, H.J.M., Skalnik, P. (Eds.) The Early State. The Hague, pp. 597-618 SÜMER, F. (1967) “Oğuzlar (Oghuzen)”, Ankara SÜMER, F., A. E. Uysal, and W. S. Walker. (Eds.) “The Book of Dede Korkut – A Turkish Epic”, Austin, London 1972 TEMİR, A. (1948) “Moğolların Gizli Tarihi (Die Geheime Geschichte der Mongolen)”, Ankara THOMSEN, W. (1924) “Alttürkische Inschriften der Mongolei” In Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft, Nr. 3 Neue Folge, Leipzig pp. 121-170 TWITCHETT, D.C.. (1976) “The Sui (589-618) and T’ang (618-907) Dynasties: An Introduction” In Perry, J.C., Smith, B.L. (eds.) Essays on T’ang Society. Leiden pp. 1-16 VAJDA, L. (1968) “Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der Hinterkulturellen”, Wiesbaden VAJNSTEIJN, S.I. (1978) “The Problem of Origin and Formation of the Economic-Cultural Type of Pastoral Nomads in the Moderate Belt of Eurasia” In: Weissleder, W. (Ed.), The Nomadic Alternative. The Hague, Paris 1978. pp. 127-146.