Explain 4 basic political systems with examples in pre-colonial period.

1 answer

1. Monarchy: A monarchy is a political system in which a single ruler, usually a king or queen, holds all the power and authority. Examples of monarchies in the pre-colonial period include the Kingdom of Benin in West Africa and the Kingdom of Kongo in Central Africa.

2. Chiefdom: A chiefdom is a political system in which power is centralized in the hands of a chief or tribal leader, who may rule over multiple villages or communities. Examples of chiefdoms in the pre-colonial period include the Cherokee tribe in North America and the Maasai tribe in East Africa.

3. Confederacy: A confederacy is a political system in which multiple independent states or tribes come together to form a unified government, while retaining some degree of autonomy. An example of a confederacy in the pre-colonial period is the Iroquois Confederacy in North America, which consisted of six separate tribes that came together for mutual defense and governance.

4. Theocracy: A theocracy is a political system in which religious leaders hold the highest positions of power and authority, and the government is based on religious principles. An example of a theocracy in the pre-colonial period is the Aztec Empire in Mesoamerica, where the ruling class consisted of priests and religious leaders who held significant influence over all aspects of society.