African SocietyAfrican Society

Great EmpiresGreat Empires

Focus QuestionFocus Question

Identify, in one or two words, the reason why you would get married.

Identify, in one or two words, the reason why you would get married.

Traditional African SocietyTraditional African Society

Patriarchy: Male dominated society

Patrilineal Descent: headship of the family is

traced through the first born male, of the first born male, and so on

Patrilocality: when a women goes to

live with the husband’s family

Patriarchy: Male dominated society

Patrilineal Descent: headship of the family is

traced through the first born male, of the first born male, and so on

Patrilocality: when a women goes to

live with the husband’s family

Traditional African Social StructureTraditional African Social Structure

Individual: unmarried single

person

Individual: unmarried single

person

Individual

Traditional African Social StructureTraditional African Social Structure

Extended Family: three or more

generations living in a single household

Extended Family: three or more

generations living in a single household

IndividualExtended Family

Traditional African Social StructureTraditional African Social Structure

Clan: a social group

comprising a number of families who claim descent from common ancestor and whose families are linked by marriage

Clan: a social group

comprising a number of families who claim descent from common ancestor and whose families are linked by marriage

IndividualExtended FamilyClan

Traditional African Social StructureTraditional African Social Structure

Tribe: a social group

comprising numerous clans linked by marriage

Tribe: a social group

comprising numerous clans linked by marriage

IndividualExtended FamilyClanTribe

Benefits to Living in a Tribal SocietyBenefits to Living in a Tribal Society

close family relationships a “social security” system based on

family economic cooperation amongst family,

clan and tribe members a sense of social unity and shared

history

close family relationships a “social security” system based on

family economic cooperation amongst family,

clan and tribe members a sense of social unity and shared

history

Drawbacks to Living in a Tribal SocietyDrawbacks to Living in a Tribal Society

economic competition amongst different tribes and clans

tribal warfare “my tribe” before “my nation” =

limited sense of nationalism

economic competition amongst different tribes and clans

tribal warfare “my tribe” before “my nation” =

limited sense of nationalism

Traditional Marriage PracticesTraditional Marriage Practices

Bride Wealth: a gift given by the

groom’s family to marry a bride

(unlike dowry – bride’s family gives gift to groom’s family)

Bride Wealth: a gift given by the

groom’s family to marry a bride

(unlike dowry – bride’s family gives gift to groom’s family)

Traditional Marriage PracticesTraditional Marriage Practices

Bride Wealth: = higher status

for women gift says that

women are valuable as productive members of society

Bride Wealth: = higher status

for women gift says that

women are valuable as productive members of society

A Tribal Family TreeA Tribal Family Tree

Traditional African Social Structure

Traditional African Social Structure

David Besozzi, the IndividualDavid Besozzi, the Individual

Me

The Besozzi Nuclear FamilyThe Besozzi Nuclear Family

=

The Besozzi Extended FamilyThe Besozzi Extended Family

=

=

= patrilineal descent

=U

Besozzi Clan

Snyder Clan

The Besozzi/Snyder ClanThe Besozzi/Snyder Clan

=

=

===

=

=U

Snyder Clan

Besozzi Clan

McDougal Clan

The Besozzi TribeThe Besozzi Tribe

=

= =

=

= =

=

==

=

= =

=U

HomeworkHomework

Create your own tribal family tree. It must contain the following:

You as an individual. Your nuclear family. Possible extended family if you live in one. Any clan linkages (two or more families linked by

marriage). Tribal connections (numerous clans linked by

marriage). You will need to include at least three or more

generations of your direct relatives, the families of their husband or wife, and their children for it to be a clan/tribe.

Create your own tribal family tree. It must contain the following:

You as an individual. Your nuclear family. Possible extended family if you live in one. Any clan linkages (two or more families linked by

marriage). Tribal connections (numerous clans linked by

marriage). You will need to include at least three or more

generations of your direct relatives, the families of their husband or wife, and their children for it to be a clan/tribe.