Preindustrial Societies

1. Preindustrial Societies Unit 3: Social Structure

2. Types of Societies Societies meet the basic needs of their people in different ways The different ways people�s needs are met is how societies are classified Preindustrial Industrial Postindustrial In theory, a society is independent of outsiders. It contains enough smaller social structures to meets the needs of its members All societies have social structures

3. Preindustrial Societies There are several types of preindustrial societies. Hunting & Gathering Horticultural Pastoral Agricultural Members in these societies know what is expected of them and what they can expect from others Members of a particular types of society engage in the same basic social patterns time after time because they share patterned and predictable social relationships that are passed from generation to generation.

4. Hunting and Gathering Societies Hunting & Gathering: a society that meets its basic needs (subsistence) by hunting animals and gathering wild fruits and vegetables Hunting & Gathering societies are usually nomadic, moving as the food supply and seasons change Because of their mobility they have few material possessions

5. Institutions in Hunting & Gathering Societies Family is the only institution in H & G societies, and therefore tends to all needs of its members Economics is based on cooperation � sharing with out worry of payment. Generosity and hospitality are valued Thrift is selfishness Because everything is based on sharing, there is little understanding of private property or ownership of goods They lack social classes or status differences Division of labor is based on sex and age There are few hunting & gathering societies around

6. Horticultural Societies Horticultural: a society that survives primarily through the growing of plants This society came about when people learned that they could do more than just gather crops This type of society led to more permanent settlements, people didn�t need to move to find food This stability brought about the growth of multicommunity societies (about 1000-2000 people)

7. Institutions in Horticultural Societies Family Family is more basic in this society There is a switch from �survival of the group� to �providing for household members� Food production is a family job. Labor is divided among the family not the whole group

8. Pastoral Societies A society in which food is obtained primarily by raising animals and taking care of them The people in this society are herders who raise sheep, cattle, goats or camels/ all of which provide milk and meat To feed the animals, herders trade with farmers who raise grain or grow grain on their own There are semi-permanent settlements in these societies with men going out and moving the herd when needed. Women remain at home with very low status, men are responsible for bringing home the food

9. Horticultural & Pastoral Societies Because they can produce a surplus of goods there is the ability to create a more complex division of labor There are people who can become religious and political leaders, create clothing, pottery and spears. This creates an incentive to trade among people Because there is a �surplus� in some cases, this creates a limited difference in social status, where some people have more wealth than others

10. Agricultural Societies Agricultural Societies: a society that uses plows and animals to grow food The invention of the plow led to movement from horticultural to agricultural societies Plows allow them to access more rich soil, which results in more food production Because of the use of the plow and animals, there is less need for people to work in the fields. This frees people to pursue non-economic activities: education, politics, occupations not tied to agriculture

11. Institutions in Agricultural Societies New institutions emerge: political, religion, economic.