Patterns of kinship and clanship : the Mackintoshes and Clan Chattan, 1291 to 1609
Highland history of the middle ages continues to be regarded generally as separate from the history of the Lowlands, as well as the political history of Scotland. To a large extent, the perception of two distinct societies within Scotland during this period has been swept aside, but few moves have been made to integrate fully the history of clanship into that of Scotland as a whole. This case study of the Mackintoshes and Clan Chattan seeks to examine clanship from a sociological as well as a historical perspective. Kinship was a fundamental characteristic of clan society, but these relationships were not limited to blood relatives. The creation of Active kinship through ties of customary obligation within a clan reinforced clan solidarity and cohesion, a vital factor for the geographically disparate Clan Chattan confederation. Within the locality, Active kinship was established by the contraction of more formal alliances which had social, political and economic objectives. The creation of these relationships enabled the clan to survive and expand. For central Highland clans like the Mackintoshes and Clan Chattan who lived in close geographic proximity to Lowland society, the extension of fictive kinship facilitated
Cathcart, Alison
Scottish Highlands; Clans; Cameron; Mackintosh
Patterns of kinship and clanship : the Mackintoshes and Clan Chattan, 1291 to 1609. Highland history of the middle ages continues to be regarded generally as separate from the history of the Lowlands, as well as the political history of Scotland. To a large extent, the perception of two distinct societies within Scotland during this period has been swept aside, but few moves have been made to integrate fully the history of clanship into that of Scotland as a whole. This case study of the Mackintoshes and Clan Chattan seeks to examine clanship from a sociological as well as a historical perspective. Kinship was a fundamental characteristic of clan society, but these relationships were not limited to blood relatives. The creation of Active kinship through ties of customary obligation within a clan reinforced clan solidarity and cohesion, a vital factor for the geographically disparate Clan Chattan confederation. Within the locality, Active kinship was established by the contraction of more formal alliances which had social, political and economic objectives. The creation of these relationships enabled the clan to survive and expand. For central Highland clans like the Mackintoshes and Clan Chattan who lived in close geographic proximity to Lowland society, the extension of fictive kinship facilitated
patterns kinship clan highland history middle_age continue regard generally separate history lowlands well political_history scotland large_extent perception two_distinct society within scotland period sweep aside move make integrate fully history scotland whole case_study clan seek_examine sociological well historical_perspective kinship fundamental characteristic clan society relationship limit blood relative creation active kinship tie customary obligation within clan reinforce clan solidarity cohesion vital factor geographically disparate clan confederation within locality active kinship establish contraction formal alliance social_political_economic objective creation relationship enable clan survive expand central highland clan like clan live close geographic proximity lowland society extension fictive kinship facilitate