Types Of Societies

Click to edit Master subtitle style

Introduction
 Macro sociology - It refers to the study of large
scale social systems, which makes comparative
analysis of societies.
 The classical sociologists of the late 19th and

early 20th centuries made great efforts in

developing “MASTER SOCIAL TYPES”.
Classification System
 Morgan’s Classification
Morgan in his last major work “Ancient Society”
divided all societies into three groups- savage,
barbarian and civilized. His argument was that
human societies progressed from savagery
through barbarism to civilization.
Classification System
 Comte’s Classification
French philosopher Auguste Comte assumption
was that “ all societies passed through distinct
stages of belief or ideology, evolving from the
lower to the higher stages.”
His scheme consisted of types of societies
namely,
(i) Military society
(ii)Legal Society
(iii)Industrial Society
Classification System
 Spencer’s Classification
Herbert Spencer also constructed two extremely
dissimilar types to classify societies into two
categories namely:
(i) Militant Societies
(ii)Industrial Societies
According to him, in the 1st the regulating
system was dominant and in the 2nd the
sustaining system was emphasised.
Classification Of Societies
Based On The Mode Of
Subsistence Or The Types
Of Technology
 Hunting & Gathering Societies
 Pastoral Societies
 Horticultural Societies
 Agricultural Societies
 Industrial Societies
 Hunting And Gathering
Societies
 Introduction
Gerhard Lenski pointed out in his “Human Societies”, that
it is the oldest and the simplest type of society is the
Hunting and Gathering Society.
Hunting gathering society relies heavily on hunting wild
animals and gathering food for its survival.
Example:-
(i) San people of Kalahari desert in Southern Africa
(ii)Bushmen of Southwestern Africa
Hunting & Gathering
(Characteristics)
 1- Small in Size
These societies consist of very small but scattered
groups. The environment in which they live cannot
support a large number of people. So, their
numbers do not exceed 40-50 members.
 2- Nomadic In Nature

These people are constantly on the move because

they have to leave one area as soon as they have
exhausted its food resources.
Hunting & Gathering
(Characteristics)
 3- Not Desire To Acquire Wealth
For two reasons, firstly, no individual can acquire
because there is no wealth.
Secondly, there basic norm was sharing.
 4- Family And Kinship Are The Only Defined

Institutions
The only 2 interconnected social institutions which
were family and kinship.
Family is all and all for them.
Kinship was the basis of these groups as they
were related by ancestry and marriage.
Hunting & Gathering
(Characteristics)
 Absence Of Political Institution
Statuses in these societies are essentially equal
and hence the difference between the leader and
followers is not there. Most decisions are made
through group discussion. Warfare is unknown to
these people.
 Limited Or No Division Of Labor

There is gender-based division of Labour but there

is no gender inequality as such.
Hunting & Gathering
(Characteristics)
 Constant Need To Face Danger
Some hunters and gatherers constantly face the
danger of extinction in a struggle against adverse
environments. Among the Itibamute Eskimos, for
example a family’s fate rests in the hands of the
father, who must find and catch the game, build
the house and maintain the family.
 Simple Religious Belief

Religion is not developed among these people into

unseen spirits that must be taken into account but
not necessarily worshipped.
Herding Or Pastoral
Societies
Introduction
Herding society refers to any form of society whose
main subsistence comes from tending flocks and
herds of domesticated animals. In practice,
subsistence needs are often met by a combination
of herding with hunting and gathering and other
forms of agriculture.
Characteristics
 Relatively Larger In Size
In comparison with the hunting and gathering
societies, herding, societies, are larger in size and
due to their technological “invention” of the
domesticated animal which can be used for
human food.
  Pastoralism As A Better Productive Strategy

Pastoralism has proved to be a better productive

stratergy than hunting and gathering for it provides
an assured food supply and permits the
accumulation of surplus resources.
Herding Or Pastoral
Societies
 Beginning Of Inequality
Since pastoralism contributes to the accumulation of
surplus resources, some individuals who have
better access to surplus, become more powerful
than others.
 Nomadism Coupled With Trading

Herding people, like the hunters and gathers, are

nomadic because of their seasonal need to find
sufficient grazing areas for their herds. Their
nomadic way of life often brings pastoralists into
contact with their groups. This helps them to
develop trading.
Herding Or Pastoral
Societies
Pastoralism And Development Of Religious Belief
Pastoral people tend to develop their own religious
beliefs. “They commonly believe in a God or Gods
who take an active interest in human affairs, and
look after the people who worship them. Judaism,
Christianity and Islam – originated among pastoral
peoples”.
Herding Or Pastoral
Societies
 Herding Technology Leads To Several Changes
Herding Technology has led to several social
changes among which the following may be
noted.
(i).The herding society tends to place a higher value
on their temporary territories than do the hunting
and gathering societies. Disputes over grazing
rights with other herding societies sometimes
result in warfare.
(ii).Slavery, unknown in hunting and gathering
societies, make its appearance as captives in war
are put to work for their conquerors.
Horticultural Societies
 Introduction
 “A horticultural society is a social system based on

horticulture, a mode of production in which digging

sticks are used to cultivate small gardens”.
 Came into existence about 4000BC today in sub-

Saharan Africa.
 Examples for horticultural societies: (1)

Gururumba Tribe in New Guinea. (ii)Masai people

of Kenya
Horticultural Societies
 Characteristics
 Domestication Of Plants

Horticulturists specialize in the domestication of

plants such as wheat, rice etc. More advanced
horticultural societies have metal tools and
weapons and not ploughs.
 Slash And Burn Technology

The subsistence strategy of the horticulturists is

“slash and burn” technology .This people clear
areas of land, burn the trees and plants they have
cut down, raise crops for 2 or 3 years until the soil
is exhausted and then repeat the process.
Horticultural Societies
 Horticulturalists Are Better Settled Than
Pastoralists
Unlike the pastoralists, horticulturalists, are
relatively better settled. They develop settlements
that have larger populations and migrate in search
of better conditions
 Relatively More Complex Division Of Labor

This society assures better food supply of surplus.

Existence of surplus leads to specialization of
roles. Advanced horticultural societies sometimes
consisting of as many as 5000 people support
specialists producing and trading with a variety of
Horticultural Societies
Emergence Of Political Institutions
The surplus production allows some wealthy
individuals to become more powerful than others.
This leads to the emergence of political institutions
in the form of chieftainships. Warfare is more
common. Horticultural societies are also the first
known societies to support the institution of
slavery.
Horticultural Societies
 Creation Of Relatively Elaborate Cultural Artifacts
These people live in comparatively permanent
settlements, they can create more elaborate
cultural artifacts. For example, houses, thrones, or
large stone sculptures
 Some Rare Practices

Horticulture societies have some rare practices

such as cannibalism, headhunting and human
sacrifice. Cannibalism is eating enemies’ skin as
an act of ritual revenge. Headhunting is taken as
evidence of courage and skill of warrior. Human
sacrifice coincides with a change in the nature of
Agricultural Societies
 Introduction
An agricultural society focuses on mode of
production primarily on agriculture and production
of large fields.
Based on the invention of the plough around
3000B.C., the agrarian revolution marked its
beginning. Use of plough increases the
productivity of the land.
 Characteristics Of Agricultural Societies
 Cultivation Of Land Through Plough

With the use of the plough increased productivity

and made the increased yield more reliable.
Agricultural Societies
 Combining Irrigation Techniques with the use of
Plough increased production and ability to renew
the soil.
 Size of the agricultural societies is much greater

than that of horticultural and pastoral

communities.
 Appearance of cities: The specialists who engage

themselves in non agricultural activities tend to

concentrate in some compact places which
ultimately led to the birth of the cities.
Agricultural Societies
 Emergence Of Elaborate Political Institutions
Agricultural societies lead to the establishment of
more elaborate social institutions. Court system of
providing justice also emerges.
 Evolution Of Distinct Social Classes

Agricultural societies produces relatively greater

wealth, which is unequally shared. 1st time, two
distinct social classes – those who own the land
and those who work on the lands of others- make
their appearance.
Agricultural Societies
 Emergence Of A Clearly Defined Economic
Institution
Trade become more elaborate and money is used
as a medium of exchange. These developments
provide an incentive for the enrichment of
systematic writing which is found only in those
societies.
 Religion Becomes A Separate Institution

As societies become more and more complex,

religion requires full-time officials such as priests.
 Warfare And Empire Building

Agricultural societies constantly fight amongst

Agricultural Societies
 Enrichment Of Culture
More food is produced than required for
subsistence, these societies are able to support
people whose sole purpose is to provide creative
ideas to the culture. Hence, poets, writers and
artists are encouraged to continue their work.
 Revolutionary Transition In The Social Structure

The number of statuses multiplies, population size

increases, cities appear, new institutions emerge,
social classes arise, political and economic
inequality becomes built into the social structure,
and culture becomes much more diversified.
Industrial Societies
 Introduction
Industrial mode of production began in England
about 250 years ago.
Industry literal meaning is a classification that refers
to a group of companies that are related in terms
of their primary business activities
An industrial society is a system in which large
number of labor and machinery is involved in
production of goods and services.
 Characteristics Of Industrial Societies
Industrial Societies
 Characteristics Of Industrial Societies
 Industrial Society Is Associated With Industrial

Revolution And Industrialism

Industrial revolution transformed much of the
Europe and United States by replacing essentially
agriculturally based societies with industrial
societies based on the use of machines and non-
animal resources to be harnessed. Industrialism is
based on the application of scientific knowledge to
the technology of production, enabling new energy
sources to be harnessed.
Industrial Societies
 Technology Initiating Vast And Rapid Social
Changes
New technologies such as steam engine, atomic
energy tend to bring about social changes as the
economic and other institutions constantly adjust
to altered conditions.
 Larger Societies With Huge Populations

The high level of productivity of industrial societies

further stimulates population growth with
increasing members living in cities and
metropolitan areas. Populations of these societies
often run to tens or hundreds of millions.
Industrial Societies
 Large Scale Division Of Labor
Industrial society creates thousands of new
specialized jobs. In this society statuses of
politicians, teachers, doctors etc could be
achieved.
 Losing Importance Of Family And Kinship

Family loses many of its functions, it loses main

responsibility of educating the younger ones.
Kinship ties are also weakened. It does not play
an important role in unifying and controlling
people.
Industrial Societies
 Religion Losing Its Hold Over The People
Religion no longer play an important role in
controlling the behavior of people. The world no
longer remains as god-centered world for it is
looked upon as the man-centered world.
 Increasing Importance Of Science And Education

Science is looked upon as a promising and an

effective means of socio-economic progress.
Similarly, education has evolved into an
independent and distinct institution.
Industrial Societies
 Increasing Important Role Of The State
State is increasingly involved in the economic,
educational, military and other activities. State as
the central power has increased important role in
the industrial society.
 Widening Gap Between The Rich And The Poor

According to Karl Marx, the rich class which is

known as the exploiting class, and poor class as
exploited class. So, there is a widening gap
between the rich and the poor.
Industrial Societies
Spread Of Heterogeneous Culture
New lifestyles and values create a much more
heterogeneous culture which spreads its influence
far and wide.