Evolution of Societies and Technological Advancements

1. Types of Societies

2. Groups • Role behavior often takes place in groups. • A group • Is a set of people who interact on the basis of shared: • expectations • identity • Largest and most complex groups are SOCIETIES

3. Organization of Societies • Sociologists classify societies according to subsistence strategies • Use of technology to provide for members. • 1) Preindustrial • 2) Industrial • 3) Postindustrial

4. 1st- Preindustrial Societies • Food production which is carried out through use of human and animal behavior. • Can be subdivided according to their level of technology and their method of producing food. • Hunter-gather • Pastoral • Horticultural • Agricultural

5. Hunter-Gather Societies • Daily collection of wild plants and the hunting of wild animals • Hunters move around frequently in search of food • No permanent villages or strong artifacts • Limited size of societies to about 100 people • Family is the main social unit • Decisions are reached through general agreement

6. Pastoral Societies • Rely on a domesticated herd to meet their food needs. • Nomadic move from pasture to pasture • Food supply is more reliable so they can support larger populations • Surplus in food means fewer people needed to produce food. • Division of labor: specialization of people for economic activities

7. Pastoral Societies • Production of goods encourages trade • Trade causes inequalities in families as some have more goods than others • Power comes with the wealth associated with goods • Passing of property from one generation to the next centralizes power and wealth • Hereditary chieftainship (kings and queens)

8. Horticultural Societies • Fruits and vegetables grown in garden plots • Technology is similar to that of the pastoral societies • Slash and burn method • Wild vegetation is burned and used as fertilizer • Use of human labor and simple tools to cultivate the land for one or more seasons.

9. Agricultural Societies • -Animals used in agricultural • - Irrigation increases food production which leads to….bigger populations (Towns) • -Single individuals able to gain power • -Example- Middle Ages-Serfs

10. 2nd- Industrial • -Emphasis shifts to production of manufactured goods • Ways to produce food improves • People move to cities (Urbanization) • technological advancement • People start specializing in certain trades (assembly line)

13. 3rd- Post-Industrial • Emphasis on the preservation of information and services. • EXAMPLE: 76% Americanswork in information and services today • -Standard of living increases • - Strong emphasis on science, technology and information • -Rights on individual and self fulfillment

15. Technology and Social Change Technology is the application of scientific knowledge to the making of tools to solve specific problems. Technological advances such as automobiles, airplanes, radio, television, cellular phones, computers, modems, and fax machines have brought major advances and changes to the world. Indeed, 20th century technology has completely—and irreversibly—changed the way people meet, interact, learn, work, play, travel, worship, and do business.

16. Technology survey • Develop a 10 question survey that will address the following thematic questions: • How has technology changed your life? • How has the computer changed your life? • Then administer the survey to at least five people (each needs to be a different age) and have them answer the questions.