Kinship and Marriage Many Ryles and Varied Practices

Kinship

• Families form a part of a larger network of relatives known as kinfolk. Not all families are the same; they vary in size, relationships, and shared activities.
• Members of the same family share resources, work, and participate in rituals together.
• Family ties are based on blood relations, and some societies consider cousins as blood relatives while others do not.
• Historians find it easier to gather information about elite families compared to ordinary ones.

Rules about Patriliny

• The Mahabharata follows a patrilineal narrative, where descent is traced from father to son, grandson, and so on.
• These relatives belonged to a single ruling family, the Kurus, who governed one of the janapadas.
• When a father dies, his sons may inherit his resources or throne. This inheritance system is common among ruling dynasties, with variations.
• While extraordinary figures like Prabhavati Gupta wielded power, ordinary households were mainly concerned with patriliny.

Rules of Marriage

• Two systems of marriage existed: Endogamy and Exogamy.
• Endogamy involves marriage within the kin group, while exogamy involves marriage outside the kin group.
• Exogamous marriages among high-status families were carefully regulated to ensure they occurred at the right time and with the right person.
• Kanyadana, the gift of a daughter in marriage, was considered an important religious duty for fathers.

Types of Marriages

There are three types of marriages:

1. Monogamy: One man having one wife.
2. Polygamy: One man having several wives.
3. Polyandry: One woman having several husbands.

Norms of marriage were compiled in Sanskrit texts like Dharmasutras and Manusmiriti, which recognized eight forms of marriage. The first four were considered good and arranged by parents, while the remaining four were condemned.

The Gotra Rules

Brahmans laid down Gotra rules to classify people based on their lineage.

Each Gotra was named after a Vedic seer, and people belonging to the same Gotra were considered descendants.

Women were expected to adopt their husband’s Gotra after marriage.

Marriage between members of the same Gotra was prohibited.

Some Satavahana rulers practiced polygyny, and many queens retained their father’s Gotra even after marriage, challenging the exogamy ideal recommended in Brahmanical texts. This exemplified the practice of endogamy, prevalent among several communities in South India.

Were mothers important?

The Satavahana rulers were identified by their Matronymics, meaning their names were derived from their mothers.

However, the succession to the throne was generally patrilineal, meaning it followed the line of descent from father to son.

Class 12 History Notes Chapter 3 Kinship, Caste and Class Early Societies: CBSE Class 12 History Notes are important for students studying Social Science, as History is a crucial sub-subject that requires properly written answers. Scoring well in History is just as important as other subjects.

By going through these notes, students can strengthen their understanding of the chapter’s concepts and learn more about families, caste systems, and how people lived long ago.

Our History Notes Class 12 serves as a valuable resource to enhance your problem-solving skills and prepare for your Social Science Class 12 exams. By utilizing our comprehensive notes, you can develop a strong foundation in History and improve your problem-solving skills.