Search results
Lineage (or hereditary) societies are composed of descendants who honor the role of various ancestral groups in history. These forebears are recognized for many reasons, including military service, occupation, immigration on a particular ship, and early settlement of a state or town.
- What Is Lineage?
- Types of Lineage
- Features of Lineage
- The Importance of Lineage
- Case Studies
- Conclusion
- References
In the broadest sense, lineage is a group of individuals who are directly descended from a common ancestor through either the male or female line. This biological or consanguineal relationship ties the members together, manifesting in shared norms, rituals, obligations, and even property. Lineage forms the backbone of kinship systems, essentially s...
Lineage in anthropology can be mainly classified into two types based on the line of descent: patrilineal and matrilineal.
Lineage systems, whether patrilineal or matrilineal, share some common features: 1. Common Ancestor:Lineages are defined by a common ancestor, connecting all members of the group biologically. This ancestor can be a real or mythical figure from whom all lineage members claim descent. 2. Shared Identity:Lineage bestows a shared identity to its membe...
The concept of lineage has pervasive influence in anthropology and human societies, with implications in several spheres: 1. Social Structure: Lineage shapes the social structure, dictating relationships, hierarchy, and responsibilities within a society. It also plays a crucial role in the formation and functioning of clans and tribes. 2. Cultural ...
The Minangkabau People of Indonesia
The Minangkabau, residing in West Sumatra, Indonesia, form one of the world’s largest matrilineal societies. Here, property and land are passed from mother to daughter. Children are considered part of the mother’s clan, and even after marriage, men continue to live in their mother’s house (Goody, 2005).
The Maasai People of Kenya and Tanzania
The Maasai, an ethnic group in East Africa, exhibit a patrilineal system. They follow age-set systems, where men of similar ages form distinct groups, each with its roles and responsibilities. This creates an intergenerational bond among the male members, tying them to their lineage (Spencer, 2004).
Lineage in anthropology is a fascinating topic that offers deep insights into the intricacies of human social organization. It shapes societies and cultures, carving out rules for relationships, customs, resource distribution, and individual identities. Although the specifics of lineage systems may vary across cultures, their ubiquitous influence i...
Goody, J. (2005). The Changing Family in Comparative Perspective: Africa and Asia. The Developmental Cycle in Domestic Groups. Cambridge University Press.Spencer, P. (2004). The Maasai of Matapato: A Study of Rituals of Rebellion. Routledge.Nov 17, 2020 · Unilineal Descent Groups. Lineages trace lines of descent to the same ancestor. A matriline is traced through the mother’s family line and partrilines are traced through the father’s. Ambilines are traced through either the mother’s or father’s line; the choice, which might be made based on friendship or availability of resources, is ...
Thus, British social anthropologists explored the ways in which kinship provided a basis for forming the kinds of groups—discrete, bounded, and linked to a particular territory—that were seen as necessary for a stable political order. Their explanations of these mechanisms became known as the descent theory of kinship. unilineal kin system.
Matrilineality is the tracing of kinship through the female line. It may also correlate with a social system in which each person is identified with their matriline, their mother's lineage , and which can involve the inheritance of property and titles.
Lineage and Family History societies are organizations whose members are able to prove a blood lineage to a particular person, such as Charlemagne, or an ancestor who meets other requirements. For example, members of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the National Society, Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) must descend from ...
Lineage group is a community of several extended families made up of parents, children, grandparents, and other family members, and all members of one lineage group have a common ancestor. Matrilineal societies are societies in which the descent is traced through the mother as opposed to the patrilineal societies in which descent is traced ...
