Lesson 2Sociocultural and Political

Evolution:The Development of Societies

from the Hunting and Gathering to the Agricultural, Industrial, and Post-Industrial

Stages

Gerhard Lenski- an

American Sociologist argued

that human society

undergoes transformation

and evolution and in the

process develops

technological advancement.

“the more technology a

society has, the faster it

changes”

Hunting and Gathering Societies

• The oldest and

most basic way

of economic

subsistence.

making use of simple toolsto hunt animals and gathervegetation for food

depend on the family to domany things

although women and menperform different tasks,most hunters andgatherers probably see thesexes as having about thesame social importance(Leacock, 1978)

people come close tobeing socially equal

`

large-scale cultivation using plows

harnessed to animals or more

powerful energy sources

money as a common standard of

exchange, and the old barter

system was abandoned

extreme social inequality, typically

more than modern societies such

as our own

agriculture raises men to a

position of social dominance

religion reinforces the power of

elites

Horticultural and Pastoral Societies

Agricultural Societies and the Neolithic Revolution

• Human began to farm and domesticate

animals.

• Animal domestication provided important

contributions to the Neolithic people.

• The development of agriculture also led to

an increase in social inequality

• the production of goods using

advanced sources of energy to

drive large machinery

• water power and then steam

boilers to operate mills and

factories filled with large

machines

• change was so rapid that it

sparked the birth of sociology

itself

• weakening of close working

relationships, strong family ties,

and many of the traditional

values, beliefs and customs

Industrial Societies

the production of informationusing computer technology

less and less labour force

the postindustrial society is atthe heart of globalization

technology has improved lifeand brought the world's peoplecloser but establishing peace,ensuring justice, and protectingthe environment are problemsthat technology alone cannotsolve

Post-Industrial Societies

Characteristics:

• Transfer of labor workforce from

manufacturing to service

• A significant increase in the number of

professional and technical employment

and a decline in the number of skilled and

semiskilled workers

• Education as the basis of social mobility

• Human capital

• Application of “intellectual technology”

• Focus on communication infrastructure

• Knowledge as source of invention and

innovation

Political Evolutionand the Development of

Early Civilization

Four Major Civilizations

• Sumerian

• Indus Valley

• Shang

• Egyptian

• Developed and highly advanced cities

• Well-defined city centers

• Complex and systematic institutions

• Organized and centralized system ofgovernment

• Formalized and complex form of religion

• Job specialization

• Development of Social classes

• Advance technology

• System of writing and recording

As a Political leader….• Craft laws

• Implement laws

• Impose justice and punishment

• Collect taxes

• Sometimes act as religious leaders as well

Social and Political Systems