Horticultural, and Agrarian Societies

Using foraging, horticultural, and agrarian societies, I will be discussing the adaptation involving kinship and marriage associating with “family functions” in these societies. I will be conducting my research and observations based on class lectures as well as readings that were assigned and basic research.

The Ju/’hoansi is a foraging society that classified as a “camps”. These people are hunting and gathering type of people that requires everyone in the camp to help out and do their part. The Ju/’hoansi usually have neighboring camps that they share resources and good with only by permission. When marrying someone in the Ju/’hoansi camp, one person cannot marry within a bilateral circle extending to their second cousin. Also one cannot marry with another if that person has the same first name of their parents or sibling which is called avoidance kin. The bride’s mother is the controlling position of a marriage. The bride’s mother tries to establish a stable relationship by exchanging gifts with the groom’s family. If the daughter is having potential problems with the groom, then the bride’s mother will simply move to another camp and exchange gifts with them. Marriage takes place after years of gift exchange. Once married, the husband is expected to perform bride services which entitles hunting and gathering. Parents are not allowed to name their children after themselves but usually after their mothers and fathers. Children in this society are exposed to sexual intercourse activity as early as 15 years old. Divorces can happen with the Ju/’hoansi, and even marrying for a second time. If a divorce is to occur then the children stay with their mothers.

An example of a horticultural society, are the Iroquois clan. The Iroquois have longhouse families and nuclear families or extended families. They believe extended families are no to be limited because of its continuous structure including the long house. The long house family is the descendant but everyone in that long house was considered blood