Spheres of exchange
Encyclopedia
Spheres of exchange is a classic topic in anthropology
, and a heuristic
tool for analyzing trading restrictions within societies that are communally governed and where resources are communally available.
Basically, taboos or restrictions on the trading or gifting of subsistence items for wealth items can be analyzed using a spheres of exchange template where the production and utilization of wealth is considered as a different category (or sphere) from subsistence activities and products. These societal restrictions exist in order to maintain the availability of subsistence for all of the group's members by preventing their accumulation by a few, and these restrictions also inhibit the accumulation of wealth by a few individuals, to the detriment of the community.
The introduction of money into communal societies where these sphere-of-exchange restrictions exist can disrupt resource allocation, by creating a pathway for exchange that is not accounted for in the existing restrictions. However, in some societies money has been more or less successfully integrated into spheres of exchange.
The classic example of spheres of exchange was provided by Paul Bohannan and Laura Bohannan from their field work with the Tiv
in Nigeria. The subsistence sphere included food such as yams, grains, vegetables, and small livestock, as well as eating utensils, farming tools and tools for food-preparation. The second sphere of wealth included brass rods, cattle, white cloth, and slaves. While a third sphere was marriageable female relatives. In calling these different areas of exchange spheres, we imply that each includes commodities that are not regarded as equivalent to those commodities in other spheres and hence in ordinary situations are not exchangeable. Each sphere is a different universe of objects. A different set of moral values and different behavior are to be found in each sphere.
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
, and a heuristic
Heuristic
Heuristic refers to experience-based techniques for problem solving, learning, and discovery. Heuristic methods are used to speed up the process of finding a satisfactory solution, where an exhaustive search is impractical...
tool for analyzing trading restrictions within societies that are communally governed and where resources are communally available.
Basically, taboos or restrictions on the trading or gifting of subsistence items for wealth items can be analyzed using a spheres of exchange template where the production and utilization of wealth is considered as a different category (or sphere) from subsistence activities and products. These societal restrictions exist in order to maintain the availability of subsistence for all of the group's members by preventing their accumulation by a few, and these restrictions also inhibit the accumulation of wealth by a few individuals, to the detriment of the community.
The introduction of money into communal societies where these sphere-of-exchange restrictions exist can disrupt resource allocation, by creating a pathway for exchange that is not accounted for in the existing restrictions. However, in some societies money has been more or less successfully integrated into spheres of exchange.
The classic example of spheres of exchange was provided by Paul Bohannan and Laura Bohannan from their field work with the Tiv
Tiv
Tiv are an ethno-linguistic group or ethnic nation in West Africa. They constitute approximately 2.5% of Nigeria's total population, and number over 5.6 million individuals throughout Nigeria and Cameroon. The Tiv are the 4th largest ethnic group in Nigeria. Tiv language is spoken by about 6...
in Nigeria. The subsistence sphere included food such as yams, grains, vegetables, and small livestock, as well as eating utensils, farming tools and tools for food-preparation. The second sphere of wealth included brass rods, cattle, white cloth, and slaves. While a third sphere was marriageable female relatives. In calling these different areas of exchange spheres, we imply that each includes commodities that are not regarded as equivalent to those commodities in other spheres and hence in ordinary situations are not exchangeable. Each sphere is a different universe of objects. A different set of moral values and different behavior are to be found in each sphere.