Final answer:
Lineage and clan systems were used for social organization in various societies, from segmentary lineages like the Nuer of South Sudan to stratified chiefdoms like the Mississippians, and the feudal systems in Europe. Leadership and social cohesion were often dependent on extended families, with authority that could be centralized as societies evolved.
Step-by-step explanation:
Many societies throughout history have used lineage and clan systems for social organization, including those in tribal and feudal contexts. This structure is built on extended family groups that provide social integration, authority, and decision-making. The lineage orders consist of various types of lineages, segmentary lineages being one example, such as with the Nuer of South Sudan, where disputes between smaller family units can escalate to involve larger related groups. Both patrilineal and matrilineal descent patterns have been used, depending on the society.
These systems often align with the production modes of a society, found commonly in horticultural and pastoral societies, where local resource production is key. When agricultural surplus is generated, it facilitates the development of craft specialization and the accumulation of wealth, which in turn can influence social hierarchies. Within some societies, like the Mississippians, clan systems were overlaid with stratified chiefdoms with a noble class and hierarchy of chiefs. Over time, especially with feudal societies in Europe, the importance of clan loyalty diminished as a feudal system of rights, privileges, and loyalty emerged.
Traditionally, lineage-based societies did not have a central authority; instead, elders and temporary leaders provided guidance. However, as some societies, like the Mississippians, became more centralized, these decentralized systems were sometimes replaced or supplemented by structures like chiefdoms, where power becomes more formalized.