XVIII.11 On savage peoples and barbarian peoples
One difference between savage peoples and barbarian peoples is that the former are small, dispersed nations which for some particular reasons cannot unite, whereas barbarians are ordinarily small nations that can unite. The former are ordinarily peoples of hunters, the latter shepherds. This is clearly seen in the north of Asia. The peoples of Siberia could not possibly live assembled, because they would not be able to feed themselves ; the Tartars can live assembled for some while, because their herds can be gathered together for a while. All the hordes can therefore unite, and that happens when one chief has defeated many others, after which they must do one of two things : either separate from each other, or go make some great conquest in some southern empire