SOSC 1430 Lecture 7: Pre-colonial Societies
11 Nov 2016
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Document Summary
Introduction: pre-colonial societies, egalitarian (subsistence societies, non-egalitarian (state-based societies, conclusions. Importance to understand diversity of human cultures outside western. Many of them had levels of development that were equal or superior to those of western europe by the 1400-1500s. Culture and human diversity outside of the western world have been fundamental to the ideas of development. We are inclined to believe that development happened due to western modernization. Often assumed europe colonized these societies due to its inherent superiority. Large societies of millions of people that made euro-feudal society pale in comparision. Conquest led to destruction and radical transformation of societies commonly referred to as "primitive". Connected to economic interests of europe: pre-colonial societies. India, from a world producer of textiles to a region providing raw materials for england"s textile industry. The same for many regions around the world. Pre-conquest societies were restructured to serve european needs. Colonization & capitalism: destroyed other forms of social and economic organization.
