Exam 11: Agricultural States

Most cultures with matrilineal social organizations are found in matriarchal states where females have political and economic power.

The term "civilization" usually implies societies with a complex division of labor, with economic roles other than those pertaining to food production.

Individuals who cultivate land for their basic subsistence while paying tribute to a ruling elite are called:

The majority of archaeological studies suggest that life expectancy with the development of intensive agriculture.

As in forager societies, divorce in agricultural states occurs very frequently because there are no economic or political ties that must be taken into consideration.

Characteristics of a civilization include all of the following except:

States differ structurally from bands, tribes, and chiefdoms by having a bureaucratic or governmental organization.

A decentralized form of political economy based on landed estates in which autonomous patrons who owned the land demanded tribute from their serfs (peasants) is called:

The transition from foraging to food production (domestication of plants and animals) was accompanied by a number of features. What changes or factors are associated with this transition?

It has been hypothesized that as women's roles in agriculture decreased, their social status decreased as well; thus, agricultural societies are more patriarchal than tribes and chiefdoms.

Compare and contrast the nature of divorce in agricultural states, chiefdoms, tribes, and forager societies. Do you see any parallels, or is divorce simply a cultural facet that does not relate to the rest of society?

Social inequality is exemplified in the __________ of India. These social units are endogamous groupings into which a person is born and dies.

How does the dowry differ from bridewealth? What are some of the functions of a dowry?

Slavery took on different forms depending upon the political economies and demographic features of the agricultural state society. For example, in some African societies, slavery corresponded to an "open system" in which slaves could be incorporated into domestic kin groups and even become upwardly mobile. In contrast, "closed systems" of slavery provided no opportunities for upward mobility or incorporation into kin groups. The open system of slavery occurred:

Review at least four reasons for state-level society collapse. Which do you think is the most rational? Explain why.

The first codified laws originated in the Near Eastern civilization of Babylon. Based on standardized procedures for dealing with civil and criminal offenses, this Babylonian code of law is known as the:

In ancient agricultural states, religion sanctified and legitimized the authority of political leaders.

The first codified laws, the Laws of Hammurabi, originated in the Near Eastern civilization of Babylon.

In many agricultural states, women were restricted to domestic activities while men were permitted to engage in public (outside) endeavors. Women were often not allowed to own property, engage in politics, or pursue educational goals. These restrictions were reflected in a number of cultural practices such as:

Why is monogamy the primary form of marriage in agricultural states? Is polygyny allowed or practiced in any agricultural states? Are there any restrictions on who can enter into a polygynous union?