1 / 20

Mazrui: Triple heritage--types of societies

Mazrui: Triple heritage--types of societies. Mazrui on [the Civilizations of ] the Bow and Spear. Hunting -- the mother of technology Technology and territory-- the parents of war. Lovers of animals. Spear--cattle complex Pastoralists. Lovers of land--agriculturalists.

marlis
Download Presentation

Mazrui: Triple heritage--types of societies

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Mazrui:Triple heritage--types of societies

  2. Mazrui on [the Civilizations of] the Bow and Spear • Hunting -- the mother of technology • Technology and territory-- the parents of war

  3. Lovers of animals • Spear--cattle complex • Pastoralists

  4. Lovers of land--agriculturalists

  5. States and Stateless Societies • wide range of political formulations in Africa

  6. Definition of the State • authority is centralized • force -- part of political control • boundaries

  7. Definition of Stateless Societies • Consensus rather than coercion • Less concern with territorial boundaries • Diffuse authority • Rely on custom

  8. Conditions for a state • Settled agriculture--necessary, but not sufficient cause • Not all agricultural societies are states but all states -- agricultural base)

  9. Pastoral societies have had to conquer agricultural societies to become states • State needs greater resources

  10. Which is better? State or Stateless • Europeans respected states • Politically respectable • Treaties and pretend diplomatic relations • BUT STATES ARE: less egalitarian, more brutal

  11. European arrogance • Only complex civilizations are important • Ancient Egypt and other kingdoms (e.g., Ghana, Mali, Songhai) fit the bill

  12. Stateless • Egalitarian and social cohesion • More peaceful, harmonious

  13. Islam: Centralizing effect • Moves an agricultural society towards statehood • But not with pastoralists (e.g., Somalia)

  14. “Romantic Gloriana” • Emphasis past grandeur • Skills, monuments, performance • Technology, written word • Urbanism

  15. Hierarchy, kings and emperors • Trade and manufacture • Organizational principles of statehood • “Civilization” writ large

  16. Romantic Primitivism • Validates simplicity and non-technical traditions • Pride in the traditions that Europeans despised • Dignity in village life

  17. Folk beliefs and oral tradition • Romance of rhythm, drum and dance • Rural intimacy • Equality and cooperation in traditional life • Power to the people

  18. Two approaches: Reason and Emotion • I think, therefore I am (Descartes) • I feel, therefore I am (Senghor)

  19. Past is not over • Ancestors still with us • Calendar and clock are weak

  20. Archives versus oral tradition • Written word is weak except in Islamic societies (Arabic and Koran) • Weak capacity to record and preserve

More Related