The concept of extended family in nomadic societies Hello, I was reading the 25th chapter of the book of Mathew, the story of the Master and the servants. One of the servants was given a talent of silver and he did not wish to risk it so he buried it. His master cast him out as a lazy and worthless servant. Now I don't read the Bible because I am better than anyone else I read it because I need the help. But while reading this I began to contemplate the concept of extended family in nomadic societies. One family or one person can not readily exist in the wilderness. This causes people to gather in travel groups. I believe the minimum size of a travel group is 5 families or about 25 people. Observers such as Arminius Vamberey noted an average of 5 people per yurt and from what I have seen that number seems to hold up as a good tool in estimating. So for estimating population calculate population as 5 times the number of tents. Herds seem to fluctuate with the forage conditions. The harsher the environment the larger the herd required. As a minimum number I have heard as low as 20 sheep per household. In each travel group there must be a headman. He is in some ways the master but in other ways the administrator. There is a limit to how large a travel group can be. Several factors come into play. The larger the group the larger number of animals and consequently the further from camp the herds must go for forage. In larger groups there are more egos and consequently always some who feels he would be a better leader. This causes groups to split. These factors that decrease size are met by some that increase size. The more dangerous the area the larger the travel group needs to be for security. Small groups have trouble dealing with herding and posting a watch. They are also more vulnerable to raids. So a group must be able to defend it's self. Reading many of the major Anthropologists in Southwest Asia it becomes apparent that they did their observations so late in the equation that they tend to lose the military component of tribalism Defense is key in clan building. Travel groups coalesce around a "strong man". People are most likely to join those most like themselves. So the travel groups tend to skew towards linguistically homogeneous groups. However is is a mistake to assume that the clan or Oboq as the Mongols called them were a patralineal decent group even when the members claim it was. Clans must constantly look towards building alliances and recruiting new members. There is strength in numbers so when faced with external foes previous rivals or even enemies become allies. When a group is in the ascendancy it draws people into it's self and in time of decendency people leave like rats from a sinking ship. There are exceptions because Religion also plays a role. But in response to external stimuli travel group leaders or headmen coalesce around a strong man among strongmen who becomes the clan leader then clan leaders come together to form tribes and tribal leaders who then build alliances around confederation leaders. The most important factors in a Tribal confederation is the federations ability to guarantee rights to land and water and to insure domestic tranquility. While it may at first appear to be a rigid and stagnant system is can move with surprising fluidity at times. When Cengiz Qan was 9 his father a clan leader in a small tribe died. The clan dissolved because they did not have confidence that a young boy could lead and protect them. Further they feared the boy had gained all of his fathers enemies without the benefit of his friends or strength. Temujin as he was then known survived as best he could caring for his mother and brothers. Finally a raiding party took the family's horses and this would be the end of them. Temujin with his remaining horse trailed the raiders and on the way he met Borocu. With the help of his new friend he got back his horses. With his herd and a victory and a friend Temujin rebuilt his travel group and his clan to use it to dominate his tribe and then his neighbors and the the largest empire in the history of the world. Best wishes, Barry |
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