1. Monarchy: Monarchy was a common political system in many pre-colonial societies where a single ruler, often a king or queen, held all political power. This ruler typically inherited their position from a parent and ruled for life. An example of a pre-colonial monarchy is the Ashanti Empire in West Africa, where a king known as the Asantehene ruled over a centralized state.
2. Chiefdom: Chiefdoms were another common political system in pre-colonial societies, where power was concentrated in the hands of a chief or tribal leader. The chief typically ruled with the help of a council of advisers and made decisions on behalf of the community. An example of a pre-colonial chiefdom is the Hawaiian Islands, where local chiefs controlled their respective territories.
3. Confederacy: Some pre-colonial societies operated under a confederacy system, where multiple independent tribes or states came together to form a loose alliance for mutual benefit and defense. Each member retained a level of autonomy while also cooperating on matters of common interest. An example of a pre-colonial confederacy is the Iroquois Confederacy in North America, which brought together several Native American tribes.
4. Tribal Society: In some pre-colonial societies, political power was distributed among various clans or tribes, with a system of traditional governance and decision-making processes. Leaders were often chosen based on lineage, age, or achievements within the community. An example of a tribal society is the Maori people of New Zealand, who were organized into clans with their own leaders and structures.
References:
Hrbek, I. (1983). The African Civilizations Pre-colonial Period. University of California Press.
Kehoe, A. B. (2003). Empire of the Imagination: A Journey into the Pre-colonial Political Systems. University of Winnipeg Press.
With examples explain 4 basic political systems in the pre-colonial period. With APA references.
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