Question

Which of the following statements is NOT true of chiefdoms? A. Leaders in chiefdoms relied on generosity, gift-giving, or personal charisma for authority. B. The Igbo and the Tiv of West Africa were organized as chiefdoms. C. Chiefdoms included inherited positions of power and privilege. D. Chiefdoms were widespread among the Polynesian peoples of the Pacific islands.

Answer 1

The correct answer is - A. Leaders in chiefdoms relied on generosity, gift-giving, or personal charisma.

The chiefdoms were a very widespread type of social organization in multiple areas in the world until relatively recently. The majority of Africa, Australia and Oceania, parts of Southeast Asia were organized in chiefdoms. Most commonly, the leader in a chiefdom had that power by inheriting in, thus it was running in the family, except if the leader did something really bad so the people replaced him.

The leaders in the chiefdoms were not people from which generosity, gift-giving, or charisma were required. What was needed and required from them was that they are wise, knowledgeable, good military tacticians, good diplomats, to keep their people safe and to bring in prosper in the chiefdom.