Final answer:
In East Africa, cattle historically served as special purpose money in pastoralist societies, which were characterized by mobility, a pastoralist sociocultural complex, and a division of labor by gender and age.
Step-by-step explanation:
In pastoralist societies of East Africa, such as those among the Maasai, cattle functioned as a form of special-purpose money. Pastoralism is closely tied with mobile lifestyles, where communities must move to find fresh pastures for their herds, often involving nomadic or transhumant strategies. The socio-cultural complex of pastoralism means that all aspects of culture, including social status and wealth, are closely linked with the herding of animals. Pastoral societies also depended on a division of labor based on gender and age, with a vast knowledge of animal husbandry and the environment being crucial for their survival.