Final answer:
Styles of braiding and other hair-grooming practices signified social status in many cultures, including ancient African civilizations, Viking society, and East Asian aristocracies. Hairstyles could indicate wealth, rank, societal roles, and cultural identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Different styles of braiding signified a person's social status in various cultures. For example, hairstyles in ancient African civilizations were used to symbolize familial background, social status, tribal belonging, marital status, and spirituality. In these societies, hair-grooming practices such as braiding were also social activities. In Viking society, social classes were distinguished by clothing and jewelry, which indicated wealth and status. Similarly, in Bantu societies of eastern and south-central Africa, social stratification was reflected in the cultural practices including women veiling themselves aligning with rising Islam influence.
In East Asian aristocracies, rank and status were reflected in every aspect of life, including hairstyles. Among the Ibo people in colonial Africa, bodily markings, and implicitly hairstyles, carried messages of belonging and status within the community. Even within the realms of art, such as the Akkadian head of Sargon, hairstyles like braiding were used to depict texture and decoration, indicative of cultural identity.