Throughout the history of all humanity, there have been countless civilizations, the ones the know about and the ones we may never get to discover that vanished into time without a trailleft behind for us to trace. And when we look back at all of these different narratives that played out in our collective history, we come across the overlooked but intriguing societies that were different than others in one major way; these were the maternal civilizations. These civilizations had women with the more significant roles that shaped the way their societies formed and had importance in shaping their cultures.
Let us embark on a journey to unravel the mysteries of these ancient matriarchal or matrilineal societies that offered women prominence in various spheres of life.
To start, we can take a look at the Minangkabau of Indonesia, where the maternal family lines were more of importance in the society. They had almost everything; including inheritance, properties, heirlooms and familial ties hooked to the maternal line. The Minangkabau had their social system in a way that governed multiple aspects of the lives of the citizens and the roots of this system was tied to matrilineal principles. Lands and property rights were mostly passed down from a mother to her daughter and the house the family had was typically owned by the women in the family. Women were one of the main pillars that their community got their strength from; they were given respect for the wisdom they held and had influential and major roles in the decision-making processes. Their ceremeonies and traditions included ones about birth, marriage and death; which all held matrilineal aspects.
Venturing into China, the Mosuo society presents us a unique aspect of matrilineal culture of history. The Mosuo people are an ethnic group living in the remote mountainous regions of southwestern China, and have a unique societal structure that is thought to be one of the last remaining matriarchal societies in the world as of today. With the Mosuo people; family property, similar to the Minangkabaus, gets passed down from mothers to daughters along with the family names, and women hold significant social and economic power within their households. They’re also known with their “walking marriage” tradition, or “zouhun” as they call it, in which men and women own and live in separate properties that they maintain themselves. Partners may visit each other during nights yet unlike the societies we’re used to living in, there’s no expectations of commitment to each other or to a conjoined life, and the children are usually raised in the mother’s household. Due to this tradition, it’s usually the brother of the mother that takes a significant role in the childrens’ upbringing and can take on fatherly roles.
Ancient Crete, home to the Minoan civilization, offers an intriguing glimpse into a culture where women’s roles were believed to extend beyond the ordinary during the time the civilization thrived from around 3000 to 1100 BCE. Women were of essential importance to their society, which is prominently seen in the archaeological findings, artwork, and written records of these people that we find today. It is believed that with the Minoans; heritage and family lines were traced through the mothers and daughters, and they had extensive roles in daily and religious life. In their artwork and from what we know of their religious practices, goddess figuers were prominent in their lifestyles, and they worshipped a range of goddesses they associated with fertility, life and nature. The prevalence of such goddess imagery suggests the high regard for feminine qualities in Minoan culture.
There are still unsaid and maybe unknown civilizations that followed maternal traditions and empowered women in their societies. Looking back at the existence of these societies, scholars think that the disappearance of these maternal civilizations might be attributed to societal shifts, external influences, or the dominance of patriarchal systems. Yet, the legacy of these societies are kept alive in mythologies and stories that are told, in the artworks we find and their cultural remnants.
The studying of maternal civilizations of the past challenge the prevailing narrative of male-dominated history and present. These historical enclaves offer us insights that are of incredible value into the potential for gender equality, inclusivity, and balance within societal frameworks and leadership positions. Even from hundreds of years ago, these civilizations advocate for a world where the diverse contributions of both genders are not only recognized but celebrated, and are not impossible to be maintained successfully.
In essence, the stories and the history of maternal civilizations are beyond just being mere historical documentation; it serves as a beacon, inspiring contemporary societies to strive for equitable, harmonious coexistence of each individual and honor the roles of women in shaping our collective history of humanity.
