Use app×
Join Bloom Tuition
One on One Online Tuition
JEE MAIN 2025 Foundation Course
NEET 2025 Foundation Course
CLASS 12 FOUNDATION COURSE
CLASS 10 FOUNDATION COURSE
CLASS 9 FOUNDATION COURSE
CLASS 8 FOUNDATION COURSE
0 votes
943 views
in Sociology by (62.3k points)

Explain briefly the types of modern societies.

1 Answer

+1 vote
by (64.7k points)
selected by
 
Best answer

Our social world consists of thousands of human societies. For the sake of comparison, and analysis, it is necessary for us to classify them on some basis. According to Lenski, these diverse societies which are existing at present can be classified into a limited number of basic types depending upon the technologies or the subsistence strategies that they use to exploit the natural environment. Different societies have used different subsistence strategies, and those societies that have tended to grow larger and more complex. These complex societies often enjoy their success at the expense of societies using more primitive technologies.

Thus, it is on the basis of the level of technology or reliance on the basic type of subsistence strategy, societies can be generally classified into the following types:

(i) Hunting and Gathering Societies. 

(ii) Pastoralism or Pastoral Societies. 

(iii) Horticultural Societies 

(iv) Agricultural Societies, and Industrial Societies

Hunting and Gathering Societies.

As Gerhard Lenki pointed out in his “Human Societies” the oldest and the simplest type of society is the Hunting and Gathering a nomadic way of life and a very primitive technology. They have the most primitive tools such as stone axes, spears and knives.

Characteristics: Hunting-gathering societies consist of small but scattered groups. They are nomadic in nature. There is limited or no division of labour among them for there is no scope for different occupation roles. Since they are wandering in nature they need to face danger constantly. Family and kinship are the only defined institutions among them and there is no ground for the development of political institutions. Even their religious faith is also very simple and it has not developed into a complex institution. It is interesting to note that they do not have desire to acquire wealth for sharing is a norm in such societies. Also, there is no wealth worth. calling, to be acquired among them.

Herding or Pastoral Societies.

“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: Herding societies are relatively larger in size and their size ranges between some hundred to a few thousands of members. Herding people like the hunters and gatherers, are nomadic because of their seasonal need to find sufficient grazing areas for their herds. Pastoralism has proved to be a better productive strategy than hunting and gathering for it provides an assured food supply and permits the accumulation of surplus resources. Accumulation of surplus resources has contributed to the beginning of inequality among them.

Horticultural Societies: 

“A horticultural society is a society system based on horticulture, a mode of production in which digging sticks are used to cultivate small gardens”.

Characteristics: Horticulturists specialize in the domestication of plants such as wheat, rice etc. the simplest horticulturalists cultivate manually with hoes or digging sticks in relatively, small gardens without using the metal tools and weapons. The subsistence’s strategy of the horticulturists is typically based on a “slash and bum” technology. Horticulturalists are better settled than pastoralists.

This society assures better food supply and the possibility of surplus. Existence of surplus leads to specialization of roles, such as those of Shaman trader, or craft worker. We find the emergence of political allows institutions among these people. 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.

Agricultural or Agrarian Societies

Around 3000 B.C, the invention of the plough led to the beginning of the agrarian society. Agrarian societies first arose in ancient Egypt and were based on the introduction of the plough and the harnessing of animal power “An agricultural society focuses its mode of production primarily on agriculture and the cultivation of large fields”.

Characteristics: Cultivation of land through the plough is the main feature of this society. Based on the invention of the plough around 3000 B.C the agrarian revolution marked its beginning. This invention enables animal power to pull the plough enables a person to achieve great productivity. Size of the agricultural societies is much greater than that of horticultural or pastoral communities. The full-time specialists who engage themselves in non agricultural activities tend to concentrate in some compact places which ultimately led to the birth of cities. Agricultural societies, in source of time, lead to the establishment of more elaborate political institutions.

Industrial societies:-

The industrial mode of production began in England about 250 years ago. The very invention of machines of produce goods has proved to be an event of great historical importance. Industrial societies have existed only in the very modem era, dating from the industrialization of Great Britain in the late 18th century.

Characteristics: Industrial society is associated with Industrial Revolution and industrialism. Industrialism is based on the application of scientific knowledge to the technology of production, enabling new energy sources to be harnessed. Technology based on modern scientific knowledge leads to higher rate of technology innovations. These innovations in turn, bring about a flood of social changes.

Industrial societies have huge populations and large scale division of lab our. Division of labor is also complex for it gives scope for thousand of new specialized jobs. Science and education assume more importance here and at the same time, family and kind ship and religion start losing their hold and control over the members.

Related questions

0 votes
1 answer
asked Feb 20, 2020 in Sociology by Nishu03 (62.3k points)
0 votes
1 answer
0 votes
1 answer
asked Feb 19, 2020 in Sociology by Nishu03 (62.3k points)
0 votes
1 answer
0 votes
1 answer

Welcome to Sarthaks eConnect: A unique platform where students can interact with teachers/experts/students to get solutions to their queries. Students (upto class 10+2) preparing for All Government Exams, CBSE Board Exam, ICSE Board Exam, State Board Exam, JEE (Mains+Advance) and NEET can ask questions from any subject and get quick answers by subject teachers/ experts/mentors/students.

Categories

...