APAFAM Topic 1.10 Key Concepts and Terms

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Kinship

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Social ties or relationships formed through blood relations, marriage, or adoption, often serving as the foundation of social and political structure in early societies.

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Political Alliance

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A partnership or agreement between different groups or families to support mutual interests, often formed through marriage or kinship.

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Matrilineal

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A kinship system where lineage and inheritance are traced through the mother’s side of the family.

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Patrilineal

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A kinship system in which lineage and inheritance are traced through the father’s side of the family.

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Stateless Societies

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Communities without centralized government structures; instead, they are organized through kinship and led by elders or councils.

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Autonomous

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Self-governing or independent; in this context, describes villages or communities not ruled by a central authority.

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Elders

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Respected older members of the community who often serve as leaders, advisors, and holders of cultural knowledge.

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Ethnicity

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A group of people who share a common cultural background, language, and heritage, often shaping the identity and unity of communities.

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Inheritance

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The process by which property, titles, or roles are passed down from one generation to another, commonly along matrilineal or patrilineal lines.

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Succession

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The process of inheriting or taking over a leadership role or position, often guided by lineage or kinship ties.