AP World History - Thematic Review Social Structures

Social Structures

Period 1 (8000 BCE - 600 BCE)

  • Before 8000 BCE: Family and kin-based units with limited hierarchy.
  • 8000 - 3500 BCE (Neolithic Era):
    • Hierarchy and gender division of labor arise from pastoralism.
    • Labor specialization and social stratification due to food surpluses.
    • The first cities emerge.
  • 3500 - 1200 BCE (Bronze Age):
    • More villages and cities.
    • Complex hierarchies and elite classes (religious and political).
    • Artisan and warrior classes emerge.
    • Caste systems appear.
    • Gender division of labor deepens, and patriarchalism becomes more common.
    • Slaves occupy the bottom ranks.
  • 1200 - 600 BCE (Iron Age): Trends widen and deepen.

Period 2 (600 BCE - 600 CE)

  • General Trends: More complex social structures in centralized states, diversification of social classes, hierarchical societies with caste systems, continued patriarchalism, and systems of coerced labor.
  • Regional Examples:
    • Europe and the Mediterranean: Cities like Athens and Rome, class diversification, patriarchalism.
    • Middle East: Cities like Alexandria, class diversification, caste system in Persia, patriarchalism.
    • Africa: Cities like Carthage, patriarchalism.
    • East (and Central) Asia: Cities like Chang’an, class diversification, patriarchalism (Confucianism).
    • South (and Southeast) Asia and Oceania: Cities like Pataliputra, caste system, patriarchalism.
    • Americas: Cities like Teotihuacan, Ayllu clans.

Period 3 (600 - 1450 CE)

  • Global and Interregional Trends: Greater urbanization, Muslim merchant diaspora, slavery and serfdom increase, patriarchy continues/deepens, growth of artisan and merchant classes, Jewish diaspora.
  • Regional Examples:
    • Europe: Christian doctrine and patriarchy, craftsmen and guilds, rise of serfdom.
    • Middle East: Islam and patriarchy, jizya tax, military slaves.
    • Africa: Matriarchy prevalence, Arab slavers, Muslim merchant diaspora.
    • East (and Central) Asia: Neo-Confucianism and patriarchy, Sogdian merchant diaspora, samurai nobility and feudalism in Japan.
    • South (and Southeast) Asia: Chinese merchant diaspora, Hinduism and patriarchy, Islam and patriarchy.
    • Americas: Mit’a labor systems, Ayllu clan system.

Period 4 (1450 - 1750 CE)

  • Broad Trends: Agriculture remains dominant; increased pressure on peasant communities; new forms of peasant labor; coerced labor (chattel slavery, Atlantic and Arab slave trades); social diversification; urbanization; challenges to elite classes; importance of merit; diasporic communities; colonization and mixed populations; family and gender restructuring; women's secondary status persists.
  • Regional Examples:
    • Europe: Serfdom, rise of burgher and bourgeoisie, elite adjustments, religious strife, anti-Semitism, patriarchy.
    • Middle East: Elite adjustments, devshirme, Arab slave trade, jizya tax, Islam and patriarchy.
    • Africa: Arab slave trade, Atlantic slave trade, matrilineal social organization.
    • East (and Central) Asia: Intensification of peasant labor, elite adjustments, peasant revolt in China, serfdom in Japan, Neo-Confucianism and patriarchy.
    • South (and Southeast) Asia: Intensification of peasant labor, elite adjustments, tolerance and tensions among religious groups, Hinduism and Islam and patriarchy.
    • Americas: Encomienda system, mit’a system, plantation monoculture, Atlantic slave trade, indentured servitude, creole and mixed populations.

Period 5 (1750 - 1900 CE)

  • General Trends: Industrialization transforms class structures; urbanization; coerced labor persists; migration increases; gender relations change; women's movements emerge.
  • Regional Examples:
    • Europe: Class diversification, serfdom in Russia, migration to Americas, feminism, industrialization and women.
    • Middle East: Millets, Tanzimat reforms, corvee labor.
    • Africa: Racially segregationist policies, slave trade, Indian migration.
    • East (and Central) Asia: Social stratification, Meiji Restoration, indentured servitude, Chinese migration.
    • South (and Southeast) Asia and Oceania: Racially segregationist policies, British undermining of caste system, indentured servitude, transportation to Australia, Indian and Chinese migration, White Australia Policy.
    • Americas: Class diversification, reliance on slavery, migration from Europe and Asia, feminism, industrialization and women.

Period 6 (1900 CE - Present)

  • Global Trends: Rapid population growth, urbanization, social activism, ethnic violence and anti-immigration sentiment, extension of vote to women, uneven progress toward gender equality.
  • Regional Examples:
    • Europe: Postindustrial lifestyles, social activism, ethnic violence, migration, feminism, gay and lesbian rights.
    • Middle East: Partial industrialization, ethnic violence, limited extension of vote to women, limitations on gender equality.
    • Africa: Partial industrialization, social activism, ethnic violence, partial extension of vote to women, limitations on gender equality.
    • East (and Central) Asia: Partial postindustrial lifestyles, social activism, widespread extension of vote to women, limitations to gender equality removed.
    • South (and Southeast) Asia and Oceania: Partial postindustrial lifestyles, ethnic violence, weakened caste system, end of White Australia policy, activism, widespread extension of vote to women, some limitations of gender equality.
    • Americas: Postindustrial lifestyles, social activism, ethnic violence, migration, feminism, gay and lesbian rights.