Final answer:
Clans being residentially dispersed means that they lived in separate locations or settlements instead of in one centralized area, allowing for greater autonomy and independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
When it is said that 'clans were residentially dispersed,' it means that the clans lived in separate locations or settlements instead of living in one centralized area. Each clan had its own encampment or village where its members resided. This dispersed residential pattern allowed for greater autonomy and independence among the clans.
The dispersion of clans can be seen in examples like the nomadic groups in Asia, who lived in small units and moved together for herding and hunting, and the noble clans in the Shang period, which had estates separated by forests and hinterlands. Over time, clans could shift between being more localized or centralized, choosing to live apart or together based on various social, economic, and political factors.