Final answer:
A descent group where people trace their lineage to a common ancestor through parent-child links is known as a lineage. It can be matrilineal or patrilineal, impacting familial roles, inheritance, and social structure. Bilateral descent, common in modernized nations, traces kinship through both parental lines.
Step-by-step explanation:
A descent group formed by people who can specify their connections to each other through parent-child links to a common ancestor is known as a lineage. Lineages can be traced either through the maternal line or the paternal line, forming matrilineal or patrilineal descent groups respectively. In these groups, kinship structures are defined and recognized along one side of the family, emphasizing the importance of a single gender line in tracing ancestral connections. Lineages are fundamental in understanding the social organization of a society because they affect decision-making, inheritance, social obligations, alliance formation, and marriage rules.
For example, in patrilineal societies, descent is traced exclusively through the father's side, and often only males will carry on the family surname. In matrilineal societies, descent is traced through the mother's side. These lineage systems stand in contrast to bilateral descent, where kinship is traced through both parents' lines, which is more common in modernized nations. Kinship charts like the Hawaiian Kinship Chart can be used to visualize these relationships.