Understanding Culture, Society and Politics – Module 4: Significance of Cultural, Social, Political and Economic Symbols and Practices

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the module on the significance of cultural, social, political, and economic symbols and practices, including artifacts, tool traditions, types of societies, major historical revolutions, and state concepts.

Artifact

An object recovered by archaeological study, shaped or created by humans, often of archaeological interest (tool or work of art).

Oldowan tools

Lower Paleolithic stone tools developed by Homo habilis; include core tools and flake tools used for chopping, digging, and processing.

Core tools

Tools made by striking flakes from a rock with a hammer, used for chopping or digging.

Flake tools

Flakes removed during core tool production; used as knives or scrapers.

Acheulian tools

More complex tools developed by Homo erectus, notably bifacial hand axes with sharp edges.

Mousterian tools

Tools associated with Neanderthals in Europe/West Asia, combining Acheulian techniques with premade core and flake tools; edges are sharpened.

Upper Paleolithic tools

Tool traditions of early modern humans around 75,000 years ago, including blades and harpoon heads.

Neolithic Revolution

Major shift from foraging to agriculture, leading to permanent settlements and changes in culture and society.

Hunting and gathering societies

Societies that survive by hunting, fishing, and gathering; typically nomadic and mobile.

Pastoral societies

Societies that domesticate animals for food and transport; potential surplus and non-survival specialists.

Horticultural societies

Societies that rely on cultivating fruits, vegetables, and plants; mobile due to resource depletion.

Agricultural societies

Societies that cultivate crops with technology over large areas; linked to the Agricultural Revolution.

Feudal societies

Medieval social system based on land ownership, with vassals serving lords in exchange for protection.

Industrial societies

Societies based on machine production in factories; linked to the Industrial Revolution and urbanization.

Post-industrial societies

Societies driven by information, knowledge, and services; wealth tied to information technology.

State

A political entity with four elements: territory, sovereignty, people, and government.

City-state

Independent political unit comprising a city and its surrounding territory with its own government.

Democracy (demokratia)

A political system where power is dispersed to the people; origins in ancient Athens; reform by Cleisthenes around 507 BCE.

Civilization

A highly organized society with cities, writing, governance, and social complexity; not all societies become civilizations.