African Society Great Empires

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

Traditional 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 Structure / Individual: / unmarried single person / Individual: / unmarried single person

Traditional 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

Traditional 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

Traditional African Social Structure / Tribe: / a social group comprising numerous clans linked by marriage / Tribe: / a social group comprising numerous clans linked by marriage

Benefits 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 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 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 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 Tree Traditional African Social Structure

David Besozzi, the Individual Me

The Besozzi Nuclear Family =

The Besozzi Extended Family = = = patrilineal descent = U

Besozzi Clan Snyder Clan The Besozzi/Snyder Clan = = == = = = U

Snyder Clan Besozzi Clan McDougal Clan The Besozzi Tribe === = == = == = == = U

Homework / 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.