Social Science 1: Political and Economic Life of Precolonial Philippines

Vocabulary flashcards covering the political structures, social stratifications, economic systems, and material industries of the precolonial Philippines.

Balangai

A type of large seafaring vessel described by Antonio Pigafetta and used by early migrants to reach the Philippine archipelago, which served as the root word for barangay.

Barangay

A precolonial political unit and cooperative socio-economic community in Luzon and Visayas led by a chief called a datu or rajah.

Banwa

The term used in precolonial Visayas to refer to a barangay.

Puod

A polity of barangays in precolonial Visayas formed through trade, military alliances, conquest, and marriages, ruled by a paramount leader such as a rajah, powerful datu, or sultan.

Datu

The community chief, military leader, law-maker, law-implementer, and chief judge of a barangay whose authority was tied to lineage, wealth, follower loyalty, and dependents.

Maginoo

The extended family of the datu and the local aristocracy in precolonial Luzon who formed the elite council.

Tumao

The blood relatives of the datu in precolonial Visayas, serving as the direct equivalent of the maginoo class in Luzon.

Maharlika

Free men in precolonial Luzon who served primarily as military support and enjoyed unique social protections as free citizens.

Timawa

Highly respected free men in precolonial Visayas who served as the equivalent of the Maharlika and accompanied the datu on pangangayao (maritime raids).

Pangangayao

Maritime raids conducted by a datu in precolonial Visayas, accompanied by the timawa.

Aliping namamahay

A class of alipin in Luzon who enjoyed a degree of independence, owned their own houses, and served their master during planting and harvest seasons.

Aliping sagigilid

A class of alipin in Luzon who lived in their master's household, depended entirely on them for food and shelter, worked only during special occasions, and were generally prohibited from owning property.

Uripon

The labor-bound social class in precolonial Visayas, categorized into tiers including the tumataban, tumaranpoc, and ayuey.

Tumataban

The highest and most respected tier of the uripon class in Visayas who possessed the highest degree of autonomy among labor-bound classes and only worked for masters during special occasions.

Tumaranpoc

A tier of the uripon class in Visayas who lived in independent houses, worked for their master one out of every four days, and paid a tribute of rice or gold if they failed their labor obligation.

Ayuey

The lowest tier of the uripon class in Visayas who lived in their master's house without freedom, remained completely controlled, and worked three days out of every four.

Bulisik

A category of precolonial slave referring to an aliping sagigilid who served an aliping namamahay.

Bulislis

A category of precolonial slave referring to an aliping sagigilid who served another aliping sagigilid.

Babaylan

Precolonial religious leaders and healers whose rank equaled the nobility due to close ties with the datu, whom they provided with guidance, advice, and wisdom.

Sultanate

An Islamic political and administrative system established in Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago starting in the 14th century by Arab and Malay traders and missionaries.

Industry (F. Landa Jocano)

A recurrent assemblage of similar artifacts found at an archaeological site.

Stone Tool Industry

A precolonial industry spanning the Old to New Stone Age characterized by crude, undeveloped flake tools and polished stone chisels used for hunting, weapons, and daily tasks.

Ceramic Pottery Industry

An industry lasting from the New Stone Age to the Metal Age that manufactured household pots (such as palayok) and ceremonial burial vessels (such as the Manunggul and Bacong jars).

Metalworking Industry

An industry spanning from the Metal Age to 1000 CE marked by copper smelting, iron weapons, and expert gold craftsmanship used for trade, decoration, and warding off evil spirits.