Indeed, these features of the kinship system were crucial to the consolidation of the new urban upper-middle class.

The kinship system was based in the family, and gave structure to descent and inheritance rules.

On the plains, it appears they had a bilateral band kinship system.

They have a matrilineal kinship system, with descent and property passed through the maternal lines.

Respect and avoidance relationships are critical to the kinship system.

Beyond kinship ties, they have little in common.

Each group was bound around kinship ties and controlled economic activities which took place in its particular territory.

A band was semi nomadic and had clan and kinship ties with neighboring groups.

All villagers have close kinship ties with families in other villages, and marriage go-betweens shuttle from village to village.

Kinship ties were an obligation and were dominated by strict social rules, which determined the appropriate degree of interaction between individuals.