from other tribes. The gifts were passed out to the visiting titleholders in order of their title hierarchy. By accepting the gifts, these people were recognizing the new titleholder's claim to his title. And in turn, they were having their own position validated 2. It was not competitive so much as people were looking for mutual validation f. The potlatches they were observed were not only after these conflating historical factors, but they were also the least typical. They were taking place at trading posts and these areas had the least cultural stability The Kula ring 5. The Kula a. In New Gunea- Studied by Malinowski 1. Tribes exchanging goods over long distances in this group of islands ii. The goods traded were ceremonial arm shells and necklaces. This was a seeming uneconomic institution, and yet people went to great lengths to engage in the practice iii. Would sail hundreds of miles in these very well made canoes b. Puzzle: why would people go to these great lengths to trade these valuables? i. The functionalists said that these used the Kula valuables to cover up for real trade. They would actually be trading food while rading the kula ii. People found out that that wasnt the case. The Trobriand Islanders had many many forms of trade that went on continuously without the Kula iii. The Kula permeated many aspects of their lives c. Answer: By participating in this trade you are validating your high statusfrom other tribes. The gifts were passed out to the visiting titleholders in order of their title hierarchy. By accepting the gifts, these people were recognizing the new titleholder’s claim to his title. And in turn, they were having their own position validated. 2. It was not competitive so much as people were looking for mutual validation. f. The potlatches they were observed were not only after these conflating historical factors, but they were also the least typical. They were taking place at trading posts and these areas had the least cultural stability. The Kula Ring 5. The Kula a. In New Gunea – Studied by Malinowski i. Tribes exchanging goods over long distances in this group of islands. ii. The goods traded were ceremonial arm shells and necklaces. This was a seeming uneconomic institution, and yet people went to great lengths to engage in the practice. iii. Would sail hundreds of miles in these very well made canoes. b. Puzzle: why would people go to these great lengths to trade these valuables? i. The functionalists said that these used the Kula valuables to cover up for real trade. They would actually be trading food while trading the Kula. ii. People found out that that wasn’t the case. The Trobriand Islanders had many many forms of trade that went on continuously without the Kula. iii. The Kula permeated many aspects of their lives. c. Answer: By participating in this trade you are validating your high status