Were Slavs warlike people?

[only1]

They conquered half of Europe, beating down Byzantines, Sarmatians, Huns, Goths, and Finnic peoples, yet they were never known to be a fierce and warlike people like the Germans who conquered western Europe. The contrary is true - they were considered rather submissive, despite their conquest of Eastern Europe.

Can anyone explain?

[Archduke]

Probably because the Cold War.

[Flintlocke]

All peoples are warlike, the Sclaveni as well.

[xajapa]

I think part of the problem is the mysterious nature of Slavs. If you read the literature, they are virtually "unknown" prior to the 6th century, then appear to come out of nowhere to invade the Byzantine empire, usually as a junior partner of some other tribe. This idea that the Slavs appeared out of nowhere doesn't make sense. Also, they were associated with the "farmer" Scythians, who were seen as passive. If we ever find additional information regarding the Slavs prior to the 6th century, we may determine whether they were more warlike or not.

[~Nik~]

I think part of the problem is the mysterious nature of Slavs. If you read the literature, they are virtually "unknown" prior to the 6th century, then appear to come out of nowhere to invade the Byzantine empire, usually as a junior partner of some other tribe. This idea that the Slavs appeared out of nowhere doesn't make sense. Also, they were associated with the "farmer" Scythians, who were seen as passive. If we ever find additional information regarding the Slavs prior to the 6th century, we may determine whether they were more warlike or not.

Scythians were farmers ?

The problem is that the modern history was mostly written by people of non-Slavic descent, if you want my opinion.

[The Lawspeaker]

A peaceful tribe tended to get darwinised pretty quickly and consequently never really made it into the history books. Answer to your question: of course they were.. Like my Germanic and Celtic ancestors Slavs were/are no hippies and underneath all that Eastern Orthodox spirituality lies a cold, hard, brutal determination to survive.

[Rereg]

Scythians were farmers ?

Yes! Scythian farmers were described by Herodot

If you read the literature, they are virtually "unknown" prior to the 6th century, then appear to come out of nowhere to invade the Byzantine empire, usually as a junior partner of some other tribe. This idea that the Slavs appeared out of nowhere doesn't make sense.

According to ancient historians and most modern archaeologists/linguists Slavic ethnogenesis was area something between Vistula and Dnieper.

[rashka]

I think part of the problem is the mysterious nature of Slavs. If you read the literature, they are virtually "unknown" prior to the 6th century, then appear to come out of nowhere to invade the Byzantine empire, usually as a junior partner of some other tribe. This idea that the Slavs appeared out of nowhere doesn't make sense. Also, they were associated with the "farmer" Scythians, who were seen as passive. If we ever find additional information regarding the Slavs prior to the 6th century, we may determine whether they were more warlike or not.

Because they were ALWAYS there. Slavs were always in the vicinity of where they are now >>> north,south,west,east. Many got assimilated into other nations.

[derLowe]

They conquered half of Europe, beating down Byzantines, Sarmatians, Huns, Goths, and Finnic peoples, yet they were never known to be a fierce and warlike people like the Germans who conquered western Europe. The contrary is true - they were considered rather submissive, despite their conquest of Eastern Europe.

Can anyone explain?

Throughout my families history we were always involved in war.

[~Nik~]

Because they were ALWAYS there. Slavs were always in the vicinity of where they are now >>> north,south,west,east. Many got assimilated into other nations.

Sure, you can quietly add Austria, Eastern Germany and even Venetia.

But also remove Balto-Finnish states (except Lithuania).