ANT 1101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Ascribed Status, Risk Management, Matriarchy

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Anthropology
• Course: ANT 1101
• Professor: Deborah Sick

Document Summary

Mainly found in subsistence-based economies: forages, horticulturalists, pastoralists (they are mostly reciprocity-based, reciprocity-based; some redistribution. Organization: informal and temporary (there are no permanent leaders in bands or tribes) Small, autonomous local communities: kin-based (family based) Shifting leadership: personal persuasion (achieved status) Ranked: differences in power and prestige according to recognized, hierarchically ranked social groups. +/- permanent leaders: authority to make decisions. Ascribes status (usually seniority in ranked kin group) you get it through inheritance. Power is vested in the office: states (5000 bp) Achieved or ascribed status: monarchy with aristocracy, theocracy (ruled by priestly elite, democracy (the people have a voice in choosing their leaders) Political power centralized in a government: administrative system w/ specialized personnel, who may or may not form a part of the political organization. Bureaucracy: specialized administrative organization concerned w/ the day-to-day running of the state. Leadership is based on personal abilities to rally support (achieved status)