article
Family and property amongst the Amhara nobility
Journal of African history • 24 • Published In 1983 • Pages: 207-220
By: Crummey, Donald.
Abstract
This work is a historical study of family succession among the Amhara nobility of Abyssinia. Practicing ambilineal descent and partible inheritance, both which tend to dissipate wealth across the generations, the nobility kept their estates intact through the institution of the ALAQENAT. The ALAQENAT privileged one sibling by designating him or her the head of the family and caretaker of its public and private interests. The ALAQENAT was an object of much litigation among heirs, nevertheless it allowed the nobility to maintain wealth and dominance within Amhara society from one generation to the next.
- HRAF PubDate
- 1998
- Region
- Africa
- Sub Region
- Eastern Africa
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Unknown
- Analyst
- Ian Skoggard ; 1996
- Field Date
- Unknown
- Coverage Date
- 1700s-1850s
- Coverage Place
- Ethiopia
- Notes
- by Donald Crummey
- Includes bibliographical references
- LCCN
- 63005723
- LCSH
- Amhara (African people)