Types of Societies
Chapter 4.3
Group:
A set of people who interact on
the basis of shared
expectations and identity
Societies: largest and most
complex
Subsistence strategies
The way society uses
technology to meet the
needs of members
Preindustrial Society
 The main source of economic activity is
FOOD PRODUCTION.
 Preindustrial societies are divided into
their method of producing food:




Hunting and Gathering
Pastoral Societies
Horticultural Societies
Agricultural Societies
Hunting and Gathering Society
 The main form of food production
consists of the collection of wild plants
and hunting of wild animals.
Hunting Gathering Societies
 Hunting and gathering societies consists of
fewer than 60 people and rarely exceed 100.
They are called “bands.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqNgB2Fg1rY
Dawn of Social Networks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItpHyDrkTM&list=LPRP5IZd1rooQ&feature=plcp
Pastoral Societies
 Rather than searching for food on a daily
basis, members in a pastoral society rely on
domesticated herd animals to meet their
food needs.
Pastoral Societies
 Division of labor- Because there are food
surpluses, individuals within the group become
specialized at specific economic tasks.
EX- craft workers, producing tools, weapons,
jewelry…
These types of societies still exist, but are facing
change:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWelr7E3jNI
Horticultural Societies
 Main source of food is fruits and
vegetables grown in garden plots that
have been cleared from the jungle or
forest.
Horticultural Societies
 Slash and burn method to raise crops: wild
vegetation is cut and burned and the ash is
used as fertilizer.
Clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvwg56IbWpY
Agricultural Societies
 Animals are used to pull plows and till
fields.
Agricultural Societies
 Technology allows agriculturalists to
plant more crops than is possible than
when only human labor is used.
 Higher crop yields = large populations
 Sharp divisions in status – landowners
(wealth and power) and peasants
(workers).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTB2p2I
wB10
Industrial Societies
 Emphasis shifts from production of food
to manufactured goods.
 Technology and the use of machines
takes place of the farm laborer and those
people work in production of goods.
Industrial Society
 Industrial Society leads to urbanization –
concentration of the population in cities.
 In preindustrial society the family is the
primary social institution, which provides
production and education.
 In industrial society production and
education take place outside the family.
The need for literacy in industrialized
society leads to compulsory education.
Industrialization Continued
One positive effect of
industrialization is it brings
freedom to compete for social
position. (In preindustrial
societies social statuses are
ascribed).
Statuses in industrial society
becomes achieved.
Postindustrial Societies
Economy is based on providing
information and services.
US 73% involved in providing
goods and services, 2%
involved in agriculture, 25% in
the production of goods.
Changes from industrial to
postindustrial societies
Postindustrial society emphasis
on the roles of science and
education.
Standard of living and quality of
life improve as wages increase.
Search for personal fulfillment
takes on added importance.
Mechanical and Organic Solidarity
Durkheim
 Preindustrial societies are held together
by mechanical solidarity, people share
the same values and perform the same
tasks, they become united in a common
whole.
 As the division of labor become more
complex mechanic solidarity gives way
to organic solidarity (refers to impersonal
social relationships that rises from
increased job specialization).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Vwoih
GP_i8
Gemeinschaft (Tonnies)
 German word meaning “community”
 Society where most members know one
another.
 Activities center on family and
community.
 Examples: Preindustrial society or a rural
small town or village.
Gesellschaft (Tonnies)
 Refers to society in which most social
relationships are based on NEED rather
than emotion.
 Relationships are impersonal and often
temporary.
 Individual’s goals are more important
than the group’s.
 Modern urban society.
Inside the Amish Church
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg81
VwdRAVA&feature=related
The Outsider
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmYmJNs
aT-E
Part 1
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVUQlR7E
MMc
Part 2
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qihiKszP53
Y
Part 3
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vp5d
ls7p3c&feature=related
The outsiders #6
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRbrd
L9n3GM&feature=related
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcmE
SjcmrzM&feature=related
Amish World's Squarest Teenagers part
1
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=
endscreen&v=_NbR36AnpX0&NR=1
Part 12