In this latest installment of the Spotlight on Students series my SA 202 students were tasked with applying their lessons about state level societies to explaining one such society that existed in the past. The following are exemplary examples of their great works. Show him your appreciation for his hard work in the comments!
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| Kingdom of Zimbabwe (Image Source: Ancient Origins.net) |
By: Steven Beza
The writing assignment, “State Level Society,” has a
specific purpose, which is to highlight what a state level society entails and
to emphasize on a specific society of the past. Also to discern whether or not
it was a state level society, and if it had all the common traits of a state
level society. If it did not have all the necessary traits to be a state level
society, we then had to explain why it was still considered one. In this case I
wrote about the Kingdom of Zimbabwe, which did not have all the necessary
traits to be a state level society but it was still considered to be one.
The archaeological community agrees that hierarchical and
centralized decision making affecting a substantial population is the key
criterion of a state level society (www.ushistory.org/civ/7d.asp). There are
multiple traits that make up a state level society. Social stratification can
be noted in a state level society through achieved status which is accomplished
through self-perseverance or achievement by an individual or through ascribed
status that a society recognizes through birth that is not chosen by the
individual such as race or gender(Dr. Christine Boston) (Ember, Ember,
Peregrine, 2011). All state level societies are made up of smaller cities with
a centralized government. An autonomous political unit that encompasses many
communities within its territory that has a centralized government that can
also decree and enforce laws may be viewed as a state level society (Dr.
Christine Boston) (Ember, Ember, Peregrine, 2011). Resources are collected and
redistributed within the society. People within a state level society
specialize in different fields and occupations. Trade is controlled by elites
in a state level society. “State level societies also have public works and
some form of writing or record keeping” (Dr. Christine Boston) (Ember, Ember,
Peregrine, 2011). “A state level society is permanent even though it may fall
at some point” (Dr. Christine Boston) (Ember, Ember, Peregrine, 2011).
“An office that holds a permanent position of authority that
exists no matter who is occupying it is a trait of a state level society,” (Ember,
Ember, Peregrine, 2011) (Dr. Christine Boston).
The site of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe had many traits of a
state level society. Social stratification was a very prevalent feature of the Kingdom
of Zimbabwe. The society was divided into elites, and the peasants who served
them. Livestock was considered more valuable than some of the workers that
helped build and service the kingdom (www.ushistory.org/civ/7d.asp).
Archaeologist came to the conclusion that within the granite walled area with
granite houses is where the elites lived for various reasons
(www.ushistory.org/civ/7d.asp). The number of in habitants ranging from 100-200
individuals within the Western enclosure which is believed to have been the
center of the city as well as the thousands living in mud huts outside the
stone area surrounding the Western enclosure helped assert this idea
(www.ushistory.org/civ/7d.asp). There were also many items from overseas found
within these structures that would have been unavailable to common people of
the time, and the fact there was no sign of food preparation within the 60 acres
of stone structures. Food was believed to have been prepared and brought to the
elites as they needed (www.ushistory.org/civ/7d.asp). The state level society the
Kingdom of Zimbabwe was separated into smaller areas that could be considered
city like. There was the central area that had 800 ft. of walls 32ft. high with
granite huts that the elite lived in and the surrounding area the peasants
occupied and lived in mud huts throughout (www.ushistory.org/civ/7d.asp). The
Kingdom of Zimbabwe did indeed have a centralized government that was involved
in trade and religion which is believed to have been monotheistic in belief because
the Shona people worshiped only one god. (www.ushistory.org/civ/7d.asp).
Resources were collected and traded with other African societies along the
eastern coast with connections oversea (www.ushistory.org/civ/7d.asp). The
Kingdom of Zimbabwe was active in farming, herding, and was known to have
mineral rich areas that they exploited. Many artifacts from the Middle East and
West Africa proved that the Kingdom of Zimbabwe was involved in the trade
network. Their main export was gold (www.ushistory.org/civ/7d.asp).
Zimbabwe did have many traits of a state level society, but
it still did lack in a few areas even though it was considered a state level
society. The people of the kingdom of Zimbabwe were of the Shona society that
branched off of the Bantu people, although they had a spoken language there was
not much left as far as a written record (www.ushistory.org/civ/7d.asp). Today
there is little to no comprehension of any level of record keeping besides the
structures and items found in the area. Archaeologists hope to eventually find
some sort of records to better understand this society. Since there is not a
strong collection of records concerning the history of Zimbabwe it makes a few
traits of a state level society assumed about Zimbabwe questionable because
they are established off of almost solely speculation. (e.g. trade controlled
by elites, no form of written record) (www.ushistory.org/civ/7d.asp).
Zimbabwe was still considered a state level society even
though it did not meet all the criteria required to be considered a state level
society. Many variables of this society could be considered the reasons that it
had the status of a state level society. Being strong in trade and religion
could have aided this level of establishment. Many people of the past respected
the divine right theory. Also having valued goods desired by other societies
could help another society establish itself and come to power. Fertile nutrient
rich land helped make it possible to farm and raise herd animals which were and
still are commodities. Overall location, availability of resources, and sheer
numbers along with social stratification could have helped Zimbabwe become
established and to grow powerful. A culmination of all these factors could have
helped Zimbabwe to be considered a state level society even though it didn’t
have all the traits of a state level society.
Works
cited
http://www.ushistory.org/civ/7d.asp
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/mysteries-of-great-zimbabwe.html
https://www.google.com/search?site=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1600&bih=794&q=images+of+kingdom+of+zimbabwe&oq=images+of+kingdom+of+zimbabwe&gs_l=img.3...13.15555.0.16394.28.14.0.14.14.0.273.2487.
Peregrine, N.
Peter,Ember,Melvin,Ember,R. Carol-Anthropology 13th edition 2011
Boston,Dr.Christine- SA-202 pp slides 2017
-Humerus Revelations of the Naked
Ape 2015
2 comments:
Interesting to see that Zimbabwe was a state level society. Making decisions based on the needs of the substantial population. Strong basis for trade and religion really boosted the societies status.
Its interesting that Zimbabwe was considered a state level society even though it didn't meet all the criteria. But the fact that being good in trading and religion, it also helped them get state level.
-Kyla Thomas
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