Beyond Chiefdoms: Pathways to Complexity in Africa

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511558238

Recent critiques of neoevolutionary formulations that focus primarily on the development of powerful hierarchies have called for broadening the empirical base for complex society studies. Redressing the neglect of sub-Saharan examples in comparative discussions on complex society, this book considers how case material from the region can enhance our understanding of the nature, origins and development of complexity. The archaeological, historical and anthropological case materials are relevant to a number of recent concerns, revealing how complexity has emerged and developed in a variety of ways. Contributors engage important theoretical issues, including the continuing influence of deeply embedded evolutionary notions in archaeological concepts of complexity, the importance of alternative modes of complex organization such as flexible hierarchies, multiple overlapping hierarchies, and horizontal differentiation, and the significance of different forms of power. The distinguished list of contributors include historians, archaeologists and anthropologists.

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv
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Contents
pp v-v
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List of figures
pp vi-vi
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List of tables
pp vii-vii
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List of contributors
pp viii-viii
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Preface
pp ix-x
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1 - Pathways to complexity: an African perspective
pp 1-30
- By Susan Keech Mcintosh
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2 - The segmentary state and the ritual phase in political economy
pp 31-38
- By Aidan Southall
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3 - Perceiving variability in time and space: the evolutionary mapping of African societies
pp 39-55
- By Ann B. Stahl
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4 - Western representations of urbanism and invisible African towns
pp 56-65
- By Roderick J. Mcintosh
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5 - Modeling political organization in large-scale settlement clusters: a case study from the Inland Niger Delta
pp 66-79
- By Susan Keech Mcintosh
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6 - Sacred centers and urbanization in West Central Africa
pp 80-87
- By Raymond N. Asombang
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7 - Permutations in patrimonialism and populism: The Aghem chiefdoms of Western Cameroon
pp 88-96
- By Igor Kopytoff
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8 - Wonderful society: the Burgess Shale creatures, Mandara polities, and the nature of prehistory
pp 97-109
- By Nicholas David, Judy Sterner
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9 - Material culture and the dialectics of identity in the Kalahari: AD 700–1700
pp 110-123
- By James Denbow
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10 - Seeking and keeping power in Bunyoro-Kitara, Uganda
pp 124-135
- By Peter Robertshaw
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11 - The (in)visible roots of Bunyoro-Kitara and Buganda in the Lakes region: AD 800–1300
pp 136-150
- By David L. Schoenbrun
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12 - The power of symbols and the symbols of power through time: probing the Luba past
pp 151-165
- By Pierre de Maret
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13 - Pathways of political development in equatorial Africa and neo-evolutionary theory
pp 166-172
- By Jan Vansina
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Index
pp 173-176
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Beyond Chiefdoms

Pathways to Complexity in Africa

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv

Contents
pp v-v

List of figures
pp vi-vi

List of tables
pp vii-vii

List of contributors
pp viii-viii

Preface
pp ix-x

1 - Pathways to complexity: an African perspective
pp 1-30

2 - The segmentary state and the ritual phase in political economy
pp 31-38

3 - Perceiving variability in time and space: the evolutionary mapping of African societies
pp 39-55

4 - Western representations of urbanism and invisible African towns
pp 56-65

5 - Modeling political organization in large-scale settlement clusters: a case study from the Inland Niger Delta
pp 66-79

6 - Sacred centers and urbanization in West Central Africa
pp 80-87

7 - Permutations in patrimonialism and populism: The Aghem chiefdoms of Western Cameroon
pp 88-96

8 - Wonderful society: the Burgess Shale creatures, Mandara polities, and the nature of prehistory
pp 97-109

9 - Material culture and the dialectics of identity in the Kalahari: AD 700–1700
pp 110-123

10 - Seeking and keeping power in Bunyoro-Kitara, Uganda
pp 124-135

11 - The (in)visible roots of Bunyoro-Kitara and Buganda in the Lakes region: AD 800–1300
pp 136-150

12 - The power of symbols and the symbols of power through time: probing the Luba past
pp 151-165

13 - Pathways of political development in equatorial Africa and neo-evolutionary theory
pp 166-172

Index
pp 173-176

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Beyond Chiefdoms

Pathways to Complexity in Africa

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