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Matriliny |
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Matriliny
the tracing of descent and inheritance through the maternal line. Matriliny was one of the most important characteristics of the period of the matrilineal clan system and served as the basic principle for the organization of people into the matrilineal clan as a socioeconomic unit of primitive society. Matriliny was the most stable institution of this period and survived for a long time after the decline of the clan as an economic community. With the emergence of the patriarchate, matriliny was superseded by patriliny; sometimes, however, the two continued to coexist even in early class societies in the form of inheritance through the maternal line of the power of high chiefs and certain kinds of property. Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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