Types of Societies

1. Types of Societies Chapter 4, Section 3

2. How are societies organized? • A group is a set of people who interact on the basis of shared expectations and who have some common identity. • Societies are the largest examples of a group. • Societies are classified by subsistence strategies, or how a society uses technology to provide for the needs of its members. • Three main types: preindustrial, industrial, postindustrial.

3. Preindustrial Societies • Food production is the main economic activity. • Four subdivisions: hunting and gathering, pastoral, horticultural, agricultural. • Divided on the basis of how they produce food and their level of technology.

4. Preindustrial- Hunting and Gathering • Main form of food production= collection of wild plants and hunting of animals. • Characteristics: • Move around constantly in search of food; • No permanent villages; • Smaller size 60-100 people; • Equality; • Family is the main social unit.

5. Preindustrial- Pastoral • Main form of food production= domesticated herd animals. • Characteristics: • Move around to new pastures for animals; • Can support larger populations; • Food surpluses division of labor • Specialization of tasks by individuals

6. Preindustrial- Horticultural • Main form of food production= fruits and vegetables grown in a garden. • Characteristics: • Size of society depends on land available for farming; • Food surpluses division of labor; • Inequalities in wealth and power

7. Preindustrial- Agricultural • Main form of food production= domesticated animals used to plow fields to grow crops. • Characteristics: • Use of irrigation and terracing techniques; • Can support very large populations; • Development of cities and more-advanced technology.

8. Industrial societies • Emphasis shifts from food production to the production of manufactured goods. • Food production is carried out w/help of machines-- can produce faster. • Can yield greater population sizes. • Industrialization can lead to urbanization= concentration of population in cities. • Greater productivity, but less skill for workers. • Competition for social position.

9. Postindustrial societies • Economy is centered around the providing of information and services. • In the United States, roughly 73% of the pop’n is involved in these fields. • Characteristics: • Standard of living and quality of life improve; • Emphasis on science and education; • Social equality and democracy.

10. Why is there a difference? • Emile Durkheim used the concepts of mechanical and organic solidarity to describe social relationships within a society. • Mechanical solidarity= people share values and perform same tasks; united. • Organic solidarity= impersonal social relationships; relationships based on need rather than value.