Genealogical method

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The genealogical method is a well-established ethnographic method. Early ethnographers developed a way to symbolize a connection between kinship, descent, and marriage. This is important because genealogy plays a big role in the social organization of nonindustrial societies, which can be seen when people work with their kin everyday. Data has to be collected to understand the current social relations and to reconstruct the history. In many societies kin is an essential in social life. Marriage also plays a crucial role because marriage can create an alliance between tribes, clans, and villages, which is very important in the continuity of these societies.

[edit] References

• Windows on Humanity by Conrad Phillip Kottak. Chapter 2, page 38.