sociology chapter 4.1

Describe the difference between preindustrial, industrial, and postindustrial societies.
Explain the role of the environment on preindustrial societies.
Interpret the ways that technology impacts societal development.

In sociological terms, society refers to a group of people who live in a definable community and share the same cultural components.
A broader definition includes people and institutions, shared beliefs, and cultural ideas.
Many societies share a political authority.

Both China and the United States have:
- Advanced technology
- Dense networks of transportation and communications
- Foreign trading partners
- A focus on education as a pathway for citizen advancement
- Large military forces
Notable differences between the two include:
- Economic Participation: A larger percentage of the Chinese population is employed in manufacturing compared to the U.S.
- Urban Development: Many Chinese cities are newly created urban centers as opposed to those in the U.S., which often evolved from historical transit centers or ports.
- Freedom of Expression: Citizens in the U.S. can express dissatisfaction with their government openly (social activism) while restrictions and controls exist in China.
- Technology's Role: The role of technology in societal development varies; e.g., government-controlled media in China.

Sociologist Gerhard Lenski Jr. defined the evolution of societies based on technological sophistication.
Societies are typically classified along a spectrum:
- Preindustrial
- Industrial
- Postindustrial

Characteristics:
- Existed before the Industrial Revolution.
- Small, rural, and dependent on local resources.
- Limited economic production, reliant on human labor.
- Few specialized occupations, with hunter-gatherers as the first occupational group.

Strong dependence on the environment:
- Based around kinship or tribes.
- Relied on hunting wild animals and foraging uncultivated plants.
- Nomadic in nature, moving when resources became scarce.
Modern examples:
- Indigenous Australian tribes (often referred to as "aborigines").
- Bambuti of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- These societies are rapidly disappearing due to the growing world population.

Emerged when humans began domesticating animals approximately 7,500 years ago.
Characteristics:
- Dependence on livestock for food, clothing, and transportation.
- Creation of surplus goods led to trading with local groups.
- Remained nomadic, following herds for fresh feeding grounds.

Developed capacity for growing and cultivating plants, allowing for:
- Permanent settlements as opposed to the nomadic lifestyle of hunter-gatherers.
- More stability and material goods; marked the first revolution in human survival.

Established around 10,000 B.C.E. due to the Agricultural Revolution:
- Use of permanent tools and advanced agricultural techniques.
- Development of crop rotation and manure as fertilizer improved harvests and surpluses.
Changes brought about:
- Growth of towns and cities, centers for trade and commerce.
- Emergence of leisure activities and cultural endeavors (music, poetry, philosophy).
- Increased social stratification and class division, including gender disparity.

Began around the 9th century.
Structure:
- Hierarchical power based on land ownership and protection.
- Nobility (lords) granted land (fiefdoms) to vassals in exchange for military service.
- Peasants worked the land and received protection and lodging in return.
Decline of feudalism eventually led to the emergence of capitalism and industrialization.