[Glorantha] Matriarchy: matrilineal real world example

An interesting case study for matrilineal/matrilocal (Not matriarchal) groups are the Minangkabau of Indonesia:

http://secure.britannica.com/ebc/article-9372197?query=Minangkabau&ct=

http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~psanday/eggi2.html

Of interest is the family unit:

The domestic unit, a community house, held a head woman, her sisters, their daughters, and their children and visiting husbands.

and there 2 highest maxims:

• "Because nature surrounds us in all the events of our lives, the rules of adat must be based on nature,"
• The most important natural law is growth nurtured by the sun, rain, the mother, or by other forms of physical nurture.

It is also interesting to note the open views on adoption (at least in the anthropologists view).

They also view the local mountain as their great nature goddess.

---

Matriarchies in general have very little real world precedence however, 
and the influence of Patriarchal culture is always hotly debated. So 
some would argue that this is a remnant of an older matriarchy while 
others would cite lack of evidence. At least in HeroQuest we can decide 
these things, even if only in our games.


Jamie