Band society

A Band Society is the simplest form of human society. A band generally consists of a small kin group, no larger than an extended familyor clan. Bands have very informal leadership; the older members of the band generally are looked to for guidance and advice, but there are no lawsand none of the coercionseen typically in more complex societies. Bands' customsare almost always transmitted orally. Formal social institutions are few or non-existent. Religionis generally based on family tradition, individual experience, or counsel from a shaman. All known band societies hunt and gatherto obtain their food. (See Subsistence)

In his 1972study, The Notion of the Tribe, Morton Frieddefined bands as small, mobile, and fluid social formations with weak leadershipthat do not generate surpluses, pay no taxesand support no standing army.

Bands are distinguished from tribesin that tribes are generally larger, consisting of many families. Tribes have more social institutions, such as a chief, big man, or elders. Tribes are also more permanent than bands; a band can cease to exist if only a small group walks out. Many tribes are in fact sub-divided into bands; in the United States, some tribes are made up of official bands that live in specific locations.

With the spread of the modern nation-stateto all corners of the globe, there are very few true band societies left. Some historic examples include the Inuitof northern North America, the Shoshoneof the Great Basin, the Bushmenof southern Africa, and some groups of Indigenous Australians.

Compare to Lineage-bonded societies

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It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Band+society Wikipedia article Band society.