Patterns of Life Lesson #3 Click on Mursi Tribe, Ethiopia

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Ethnocentrism Definition: When we judge others based on our own opinion of what is “right” We need to avoid judging. Individual cultures have their own ideas of Beauty Justice Food Etc.

Family Ties Hunting Societies – lived in NUCLEAR families – (MASAI WARRIORS) Farming Societies – lived in EXTENDED families – (read p. 14 for differences) People associated into TRIBES CLANS LINEAGES

TRIBES, CLANS, LINEAGES LINEAGES – People in the same family CLANS – groups of lineages living in same area TRIBES – several clans loosely organized together TRIBECLANSLINEAGES

TRIBES, CLANS, LINEAGES TRIBECLANSLINEAGES COUNCIL ROCK SCHOOL DIST. CRHS SOUTHOUR CLASS

Commercial Break Look at two pictures on p ; Read captions Why would Farming Societies need to live in extended families? Why would herding societies prefer to live in nuclear families?

Patterns of Government Villages had their own justice THE MASK was used for an individual to become a village judge The guy who wore the mask would BECOME THE JUDGE, but only while wearing the mask

The Mask Click on picture

Economic Organization Farming societies – No one OWNED land – Everyone worked farm together Herding societies – saw the animal as valuable, and land was NOT owned – Everyone owned all cattle – Example: Massai people Click on picture

The Massai camp I went to in Kenya

Lives of Women Married VERY young (14-15) – Men sometimes purchased a wife – “bride wealth” – purchase price – POLYGAMY sometimes allowed ( men could marry more than one wife ) Women ran the home In charge of building the home In charge of children In charge of food & water

Where I was in Kenya, Women did all the farming

The Age Grade System An AGE GRADE is all people of the same age Each age grade would go through rituals together to learn the values of society Lion hunting is viewed by Maasai society as an act of bravery skill, wisdom, and achievement. Click on picture Just use first 30 sec.

Commercial Break What is an age-grade you are now in? What is an example of a societal ritual you have, or will go through?

African Religions Traditional Beliefs – believed in a single, distant God (MONOTHEISTIC) – Believed ancestors could help connect to God – Believed all creatures had a spirit Diviners – Connected the living with the dead Healers – Looked for behaviors which caused illness – Provided “medicine” Click on picture

African Religions Death – Very careful to provide a proper funeral To help person find next life successfully Avoid a wandering ghost Believe the dead have power over the living – Remove body through a hole in the wall Avoids return of the dead Medicine – Sometime herbs – Sometimes “created” and blown into a statue

Commercial Break Why would Africans be so careful to care for their dead? What is medicine?

Final review List 5 new things you learned about culture in Africa.