SOCL 2001 Chapter : Sociology Lesson 2
Document Summary
Societies and their transformation: people who share a culture and territory, largest and most complex group sociologists study, framework for our behaviors and influences, technology- key to understanding the changes that produced our society. Hunting and gathering societies: hunt animals and gather plants, roles split by gender, small societies: 25-40 people, nomads, all societies were once hunters and gatherers, pastoral- domestic animals- nomads, horticultural-grow plants-permanent settlements. Agricultural societies: plow changed social life forever (increased efficiency, greater food surplus, more division of labor, rise of cities and culture, dawn of civilization , more concentrated resources social inequality now a fundamental feature of social life. Industrial societies: industrial revolution: 1765 invention of steam engine, greater surplus and more social inequality, urbanization left many homeless, incredible wealth for upper class, long struggle for workers rights, inequality reversed. Postindustrial societies: microchip: source of sweeping changes in our social lives, industrial: raw materials products, postindustrial: information and services, few produce physical goods, transforming social relations.
