What is considered a transitional form between the simpler political structures of tribes and the more complex political structures of states?

If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website.

If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked.

journal article

An Examination of an Intermediate Sociopolitical Evolutionary Type between Chiefdom and State

Arctic Anthropology

Vol. 42, No. 2 (2005)

, pp. 22-35 (14 pages)

Published By: University of Wisconsin Press

https://www.jstor.org/stable/40316644

Read and download

Log in through your school or library

Read Online (Free) relies on page scans, which are not currently available to screen readers. To access this article, please contact JSTOR User Support. We'll provide a PDF copy for your screen reader.

With a personal account, you can read up to 100 articles each month for free.

Get Started

Already have an account? Log in

Monthly Plan

  • Access everything in the JPASS collection
  • Read the full-text of every article
  • Download up to 10 article PDFs to save and keep
$19.50/month

Yearly Plan

  • Access everything in the JPASS collection
  • Read the full-text of every article
  • Download up to 120 article PDFs to save and keep
$199/year

Purchase a PDF

Purchase this article for $23.00 USD.

Purchase this issue for $38.00 USD. Go to Table of Contents.

How does it work?

  1. Select a purchase option.
  2. Check out using a credit card or bank account with PayPal .
  3. Read your article online and download the PDF from your email or your account.

Abstract

Elman R. Service's model proposing four different categories of sociopolitical types has been widely accepted and used. Although his sociopolitical evolutionary model has been criticized, it still serves as a valuable concept for the study of prehistoric societies. In this paper, the traditional concept, definition, and criteria of chiefdoms and states will be reviewed and redefined in the light of archaeological examples as well as ethnohistorical documents. The paper will discuss the concept and definition of the term "kingdom," and will propose it be used to refer to an intermediate stage between chiefdom and state-level societies.

Journal Information

Arctic Anthropology, founded in 1962 by Chester S. Chard, is an international journal devoted to the study of Old and New World northern cultures and peoples. Archaeology, ethnology, physical anthropology, and related disciplines are represented, with emphasis on: studies of specific cultures of the arctic, subarctic and contiguous regions of the world; the peopling of the New World; relationships between New World and Eurasian cultures of the circumpolar zone; contemporary problems and culture change among northern peoples; and new directions in interdisciplinary northern research.

Publisher Information

The University of Wisconsin Press, a division of the UW-Madison Graduate School, has published more than 3000 titles, and currently has more than 1500 scholarly, regional, and general interest books in print. The Press publishes ten peer-reviewed academic and professional journals in the humanities, social sciences, and medicine. See the Journals Division Web site for more information.

Rights & Usage

This item is part of a JSTOR Collection.
For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions
Arctic Anthropology © 2005 University of Wisconsin Press
Request Permissions

What is considered a transitional form between the simpler political structures of tribes and the more complex political structures of states?

  • Entertainment & Pop Culture
  • Geography & Travel
  • Health & Medicine
  • Lifestyles & Social Issues
  • Literature
  • Philosophy & Religion
  • Politics, Law & Government
  • Science
  • Sports & Recreation
  • Technology
  • Visual Arts
  • World History
  • On This Day in History
  • Quizzes
  • Podcasts
  • Dictionary
  • Biographies
  • Summaries
  • Top Questions
  • Week In Review
  • Infographics
  • Demystified
  • Lists
  • #WTFact
  • Companions
  • Image Galleries
  • Spotlight
  • The Forum
  • One Good Fact
  • Entertainment & Pop Culture
  • Geography & Travel
  • Health & Medicine
  • Lifestyles & Social Issues
  • Literature
  • Philosophy & Religion
  • Politics, Law & Government
  • Science
  • Sports & Recreation
  • Technology
  • Visual Arts
  • World History
  • Britannica Classics
    Check out these retro videos from Encyclopedia Britannica’s archives.
  • Demystified Videos
    In Demystified, Britannica has all the answers to your burning questions.
  • #WTFact Videos
    In #WTFact Britannica shares some of the most bizarre facts we can find.
  • This Time in History
    In these videos, find out what happened this month (or any month!) in history.
  • Britannica Explains
    In these videos, Britannica explains a variety of topics and answers frequently asked questions.
  • Buying Guide
    Expert buying advice. From tech to household and wellness products.
  • Student Portal
    Britannica is the ultimate student resource for key school subjects like history, government, literature, and more.
  • COVID-19 Portal
    While this global health crisis continues to evolve, it can be useful to look to past pandemics to better understand how to respond today.
  • 100 Women
    Britannica celebrates the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment, highlighting suffragists and history-making politicians.
  • Britannica Beyond
    We’ve created a new place where questions are at the center of learning. Go ahead. Ask. We won’t mind.
  • Saving Earth
    Britannica Presents Earth’s To-Do List for the 21st Century. Learn about the major environmental problems facing our planet and what can be done about them!
  • SpaceNext50
    Britannica presents SpaceNext50, From the race to the Moon to space stewardship, we explore a wide range of subjects that feed our curiosity about space!

What are the 4 kinds of political system according to anthropology?

Service identified four types of political organizations: bands, tribes, chiefdoms, and states that are closely related to subsistence strategies. As with any typological system, these types are ideals and there is variation within groups.

Is a tribe a centralized political system?

Tribes are uncentralized egalitarian systems in which authority is distributed among a number of small groups; unity of the larger society is established from a web of individual and group relations.

What is a state society anthropology?

State societies are stratified. There are large differences in the wealth, status, and power of individuals based on unequal access to resources and positions of power. Socio-economic classes, for instance, are forms of stratification in many state societies.

What is one of the changes that occurs with the transition to intensive agriculture that reflects a distinctly Marxist perspective group of answer choices?

What is one of the changes that occurs with the transition to intensive agriculture that reflects a distinctly Marxist perspective? Surpluses generated through peasant labor are transferred to a small elite.