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Basic Anthropology Essay

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Horticulture societies, which means that they farm through the slash-and-burn technique (cutting down natural vegetation and then burning it, which adds nutrients to the soil) were forced to relocate every twenty years, depending on local conditions, so the populations of these communities were quite small. They had one recognized chieftain (local leader), though with restricted authority, his main purpose was to represent them to outsider people. They were typically egalitarian, meaning all were equal, although some groups did compete with each other for prominence regarding their wealth and stature. Most activities for horticulture communities required group teamwork, everyone had to play a part in farming. Unilineal descent groups, meaning groups with one lineage, played an important part in society-they bonded through religion, protection, mutual support, and exchanging gifts. Occasionally, there would be feuds between groups, causing back and forth reprisal, sometimes a chieftain could intervene, though his power is limited. Sometimes their communities would come together to form tribes, a collective group of similar communities that came together through several organizations multiple community members were a part of. Religion played a big role in their society, as well. They felt reliant on supernatural beings, participating in ceremonies that would maintain their crops, as well as believing their ancestors were supernatural beings that interfered in their lives to either reward or punish them. Chiefdoms were tribes that unified several different communities but had a hierarchal social system with one high level chief. The chief was above everyone, he had the largest house and was allowed access to certain expensive goods to show his importance and prestige. There were two levels of the hierarchy in a simple chiefdom-the chief and his assistants, and the community chieftains (local leaders). In complex areas, they had a third level-a paramount chief-which is the highest leader, and he could take the rule over ten of thousands of people. They had an abundant amount of resources and practiced advanced farming techniques and could store large amounts of food. People had to pay taxes to the chief in the form of goods and food, though most of the goods and food were redistributed back to th

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