Soci 301-001 Dr.

Sporer Spring 2022

Reading Summaries Template

Author: Maryanski
Title: The Cage of Kinship
Year:
Page count: 22
Number of sub-sections (if applicable): 3
List of words you didn’t know agrarian

What is the author attempting to do in the work? Why are they writing? What is the thesis? (2-
3 sentences)
The author is attempting to understand Cage of Kinship along with how societies can gain
power or “the distinguishing characteristics of all horticulturalists that is framing or gardening
without the benefit of the plow and nonhuman energy.” (p.5) This shows how the organizations
and demographically how societies vary over time. I think Maryanski is writing this to portray
how those in organization or society are overpopulated and the power they have over other
systems within the Kinship groups. Throughout the reading Maryansk discusses the power of
societies, ways individuals use the hunting and gathering systems, the over all population that
grows in horticultural societies and the resources that are available or the problem these issues
can cause many groups in society to be forced into war. (p.6)

List of main ideas, concepts, key points. (Bullet points)

 Power of societies
 Horticultural societies
 Hunting and gathering system
 Use of Kinship
 Cage of power

Summary of reading. Offer a brief review of the argument. A line of thinking should be clear in
what you write. Do not just report different things from the reading. (2-3 paragraphs)

After reading this the authoring was wanting readers to understand culture and society as well
as understanding how the horticulture social organization works. Also having a better
understanding of a kinship and how it is used, “The use of a kinship to cage and organize a
larger population was inevitable to the environment.” (p.7) Throughout the reading Maryanski
discusses how social ties of individuals and groups establish relationships among them. Then
lastly how the cage of power can seem restrictive to majority of people in society, the
“composition and profile of its bars ca n change due to the inherent sources of state power
Soci 301-001 Dr. Sporer Spring 2022

under hereditary monarch.” (p.22) Overall I think this portrays how individuals and groups in
society can remain a kinship society even if not all have the power.

Two discussion questions for the class.

1. Do you think our society is a kinship?

2. Dose Maryanski have any other readings? (I found this one interesting)