Pastoralism

polygyny

Men usually acquire prestige and power by being brave and successful in predatory raids and by accumulating large herds of animals. Teenagers and young men are the bachelor warriors, especially among the Masai and other cattle herders of East Africa. do not begin to acquire their own herds until they become elders. As a result, there are often great status differences between young and old men. It is the older men who marry the young women.

patrilineal descent

Men usually make the important decisions and own the animals, while women primarily care for children and perform domestic chores. Compared to pedestrian foraging societies, the economic and political power of most pastoralist women is very low.

division of labor

based primarily on gender and age in both foraging and pastoralist societies

transhumance pastoralists

follow cyclical pattern of migrations usually to cool highland valleys in the summer and warmer lowland valleys in the winter. migration between the same two locations in which they have regular encampments or stable villages often with permanent houses. depend somewhat less on their animals for food than do nomadic ones. small scale vegetable farming at their summer encampments. more likely to trade animals in markets for grain and other things not produced themselves.

pastoral nomads

follow seasonal migratory pattern varying every year timing + destinations of migrations are determined primarily by needs of herd animals for water and fodder (livestock food). nomadic therefore no permanent settlements live in tents or other relatively easily constructed dwellings usually self-sufficient in terms of food and most other necessities

reciprocate

gift giving as a i owe you promotes cooperation and solidarity

herbivores

the animals are domesticated plant eaters that live in herds