Chapter 1: Social Science and the Humanities
themes
Chapter 1 looks at the idea of 'society', and at societies throughout history. It introduces the major subjects
humanity of studying social science and humanities subjects.
learning goals
Skills
Knowledge
By the end of this chapter you will increase your
understanding of:
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what society is;
what social science is;
reasons to study social science;
skills used in studying social science;
subjects that are studied in social science;
what the humanities are;
subjects that are studied in the humanities.
By the end of this chapter you will develop your
ability to:
• compare and contrast living conditions across
different societies;
• identify skills used in social science;
• categorise different skills used in social science;
• reference social issues to social science
subjects;
• describe relationships between personal
interests and humanities subjects.
glossary
assess (v) –
impact (n) –
bias (n) –
interpretation (n) –
constitution (n) –
livelihood (n) –
crossover (n, v) –
moral (n, adj) –
custom (n) –
natural sciences (n) –
data (n) –
peasant (n) –
empire (n) –
systematic (adj) –
exist (v) –
1.1 Society
Think about these questions:
1. What is a society?
2. What is a society made of?
3. What is your society?
A society is made up of people. Usually, people in a society live within
a particular space, such as a country. One society can be comprised of
many communities.
People in a society often share a similar culture. A culture is the
beliefs, values and customs that members of a society often have in
common. However, one society can also consist of people from many
different cultures.
People in a society are connected through their relationships to each
other. For example, as family members, neighbours, work or school
mates. They may also be members of cultural, business, religious or
political groups.
Societies and their cultures change over time. One idea about society
is that the technology that people use to produce food and other items
has shaped societies. New technologies make people's lives easier and
allow people better access to new information and ideas.
HUNTER-GATHERER
People probably lived
in small groups. They
moved around and did not
settle in one place, raise
animals or grow crops.
Instead, they ate what they
The pictures below show some of the types of societies that have
grown over the past 100,000 years of human history. Examples of
these different types of society can still be found around the world.
Sometimes they can be found in different parts of the same country.
societies are called ‘huntergatherer’ societies.
AGRARIAN
HORTICULTURALIST/PASTORALIST
People began to spend more time
in one place getting their food by
growing crops ('horticulturalists')
and raising animals ('pastoralists').
Larger groups of people began to grow crops and raise
animals in one place. They started to specialise in doing
certain things. For example, making boats, shoes or wine
by hand, or being servants, builders or soldiers. Many
kingdoms and empires were based on these 'agrarian'
societies. However, there was inequality, between the
few kings or emperors and the many other people
(peasants) who worked on the land.
Society in
Society is an important idea when we study social science and
humanities subjects. In each chapter of this book, we look at different
ideas, actions and behaviours, and how they can affect society.
People in different societies, or within the same society, often have
different ideas about what has happened in the past (history). People
also have different ideas about how a society should be organised
(politics). You will also find people, events and ideas from history and
from politics throughout the subjects in this book.
Societies have changed a lot because the world situation is always changing. Many Karen villages have
changed because of better roads, cellphones, and development projects. In the past, money was not very
important because people grew food to eat and made what they needed. Now many people need to sell
what they grow or find other ways to support themselves. This has made many changes to the society and
the situation will probably continue to change in the future.
Assignment #1
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Questions
(Answer in complete sentences)
What are three different groups that you belong to in your society? (Example: Karen ethnic group)
What kind of society will you find in most Karen villages?
What is the difference between Horticulturalists and Pastoralists?
How do people in Post-Industrial societies support themselves?
What is the most important thing in an industrial society?
INDUSTRIAL
POST-INDUSTRIAL
People began to use machines for agriculture and in
factories instead of making things with their hands. Factories
could make a lot of things, like tools or clothes, very quickly.
These things could be traded between countries. This was
'industrialisation'. Today, many people live in ‘industrial’
societies. They live in large cities, working in factories or
other jobs where they earn money to buy things that they
need. Transport, communication, medicine and education
improved during industrialisation. However, inequality
between rich and poor has increased, and pollution of the
environment has become a problem.
Instead of making physical things, some
people use computers and the internet to
create software for computers, applications
for smartphones, or websites for businesses.
Societies where people do this type of work
are called 'post-industrial' societies. However,
people still need physical things like clothes,
shoes or cars, so industrial societies are still
very important. Post-industrial societies can be
same country, alongside industrial societies.