Descent refers to the system by which members of a society trace kinship over generations, establishing their familial connections and lineage. This system dictates how individuals are related to one another and can influence inheritance patterns, social obligations, and group membership. Societies employ various descent systems, including patrilineal descent, where kinship is traced through the father's line; matrilineal descent, where it is traced through the mother's line; and bilateral descent, where both sides of the family are considered equally important. The way descent is reckoned shapes social organisation and the transmission of social status and property across generations. Understanding descent systems is crucial for analysing family structures and kinship relationships in different cultures.