Question

How did this week's focus on the Americas and the case in Africa give us a different perspective on complex societies and how we term things like a 'city' or 'state'? How does it change traditional narratives? Give examples and you may want to compare it to previous complex societies we have studied.

a) It emphasizes indigenous governance structures
b) It challenges Eurocentric definitions of 'city' and 'state'
c) It highlights diverse societal structures
d) All of the above

Answer 1

Focusing on the Americas and Africa challenges traditional narratives of complex societies and the terms we use to define them. Indigenous governance structures are emphasized, and Eurocentric definitions are challenged. Examples from North America and Africa highlight the diversity of societal structures.

Step-by-step explanation:

By focusing on the Americas and Africa, we gain different perspectives on complex societies and how we define terms like 'city' or 'state'. This emphasis on indigenous governance structures challenges Eurocentric definitions. For example, in North America, sedentary societies existed with political and administrative institutions, but they are often overlooked in traditional narratives. Similarly, Africa had large, centralized states alongside village-based structures, highlighting the diverse societal structures that existed.