Hunting & Gathering Societies
the use of simple tools to hunt animals and gather vegetation
From 3 million years ago to 12,000 year ago all human were hunters and gatherers
Nomadic to find new vegetation and follow migrating animals
Reliance on family
Both sexes seen as having the same social importance
Shaman (spiritual leader) still has to work to find food
Simple weapons, rarely went to war, biggest threat was the power of nature
Half die in childhood and no more than half reach the age of twenty.
Horticulture Societies
the use of hand tools to raise crops
10,000 to 12,000 years ago
No more gathering you can just grow food
First appeared in the fertile Middle East areas
Formed settlements only moving when soil died
More socially diverse resulting in inequality
Believed in one God or Creator
Pastoralism Societies
Domestication of animals
Adopted by people living in dry areas where horticulture was difficult to adapt to
Remained nomadic
More socially diverse resulting in inequality
God directly involved in the well-being of the entire world.
Agrarian (Agricultural) Societies
large scale civilization using plows harnessed to animals or more powerful energy sources
5,000 years ago in the Middle East
Irrigation, wheel, writing, numbers, use of metals
Plows allowed cultivation of bigger fields and those fields lasted longer thus allowing permanent settlements
Money invented because of much greater production which also means even more specialization meaning more occupations
Extreme social inequality because of slavery and also a shift in roles of men and women
Subtopic
Technology that supports an information-based economy
Reliance on computers for their power to create, process store, and apply information
Developing of industrial information based skills with computers rather than mechanical skills.
Less and less labor force
More jobs usually for processing information like teachers, writers, sale managers, clerical works, and marketing reps
Information revolution at the center of this type of society
Worldwide flow of goods, people, and information now links societies and has advanced a global culture
Heart of globalization
Production of goods using advanced sources of energy to drive large machinery
Started in the 1750s in the now rich nations
Water power an steam boilers to operate mills and factories filled with larger machines
Gave us power over the environment
Railroads, steamships, automobiles, and skyscrapers are all symbols that the agrarian age is over
Ability to reach others around the world instantly
Work shifted from near home in fields to factories near energy sources. Results in loss of close relationships and family ties
The work you do ties in with your standard of living
Raise standards of living for everyone not just the Elite
More diversity
Less social inequality because of increase in education and political rights