hbd* chick has a very interesting post persuasively arguing that clans were losing significance in England by the late 800 or early 900s, visible as a decline in blood money payments to kin, which are replaced by broader, non kinshop-based mechanisms of social control accompanied by declining murder rates. (i.e., in England, the Hatfields and McCoys disappeared early)
“ england, the netherlands, germans earliest in *some*thing … scandinavians later … italians last.”
A pattern develops, traced in a series of very interesting posts linking back.
Note: this really is a note, I use this blog to note interesting material I’ll want to return to.
