Understanding Culture, Society and Politics (Senior High School)

SOCIOCULTURAL AND POLITICAL EVOLUTION: THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIETIES FROM THE HUNTING AND
GATHERING TO THE AGRICULTURAL, INDUSTRIAL, AND POST-INDUSTRIAL STAGES

 Cultural evolution-development of culture through time.

 Socio-political evolution- transformation of different societies and political systems.
-happens when societies develop new forms of economic subsistence, acquire knowledge and
apply new technology.
 Sociocultural evolution- human society undergoes transformation and evolution and in the process develops technological
advancement.

THE SOCIAL AS “DRIVER OF INTERACTION”

Different Types of Societies

A. Hunting and Gathering Societies

 The oldest and most basic way of economic subsistence
 Produce simple forms of tools used to hunt for animals and gather plants and vegetation for food.
 Describe the relationship between men and women as being equal.
 They are nomadic.
 Hunters and gatherers live in caves and pit or underground houses.
 During the Paleolithic period, these societies lived in small groups with only 20-30 members.
 Family is the basic unit of hunting and gathering societies.
 They believe that spirits live in the world.

B. Horticultural and Pastoral Societies

 Horticultural societies developed around 10,000 years ago and can be described as semi-sedentary societies.
 These societies subsist through small-scale farming
 There is surplus of food.
 Pastoral societies’ principal means of subsistence is animal domestication.
 Commonly developed in dry regions of the world.
 These societies are classified as animal herders and subsist based on the resources provided by their animals.
 Also engage in small-scale trading; Semi sedentary.
 Having unequal social relations.

C. Agricultural Societies ( began 5,000 years ago) and the Neolithic Revolution
 Agricultural societies started to cultivate wheat, barley, peas, rice and millet between 8000 and 3500 BCE.
 Farming and animal domestication is their form of subsistence.
 Neolithic people produced cultivation tools and developed farming skills that can support and sustain a town with a
population of over thousand people.
 Sheep, goats and pigs- were the first animals domesticated in West Asia (additional sources of nutrition)
 Animal horns and bones were also utilized for making needles and other utensils; animal manure for soil fertilizers.
 They also settled permanently and improved the technology form farming.
 Surplus of food were transported by animal powered wagons.
 Money became a form of exchange replacing the barter system.
 Development of agriculture led to an increase in social inequality.

D. Industrial Societies
 Began when the Industrial Revolution.
 New sources of energy were harnessed, advanced forms of technology were applied, and machineries were invented.
 It created centralized workplaces, economic interdependence, formal education, and complex social systems.

E. Post-Industrial Societies
 Development of information technology and computers.
  Important development from Industrial revolution as economic production focused on the use and application of new
information technology rather than factories.
 Production “centers on computers and other electronic devices that create, process, and apply ideas and information.”

POLITICAL EVOLUTION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY CIVILIZATION

A civilization develops because of society’s highly advanced level of culture, social organization, political developments, judicial
system, arts, and other forms of culture at a particular time.

FOUR MAJOR CIVILIZATIONS OF THE WORLD

- Flourished along the rich river plains or river valleys.

1. Sumerian Civilization- Tigris and Euphrates River in West Asia
2. Indus Valley Civilization- Indus River Valley in India
3. Shang Civilization- Huang Ho River in China
4. Egyptian Civilization- Nile River

CHARACTERISTICS OF CIVILIZATION

1. Developed and highly advanced cities

2. Well-defined city centers
3. Complex and systematic institutions
4. Organized and centralized system of government
5. Formalized and complex form of religion
6. Job specialization
7. Development of social classes
8. Implementation of large-scale public works and infrastructure
9. Sophisticated and detailed forms of arts and architecture
10. Advanced technology
11. System of writing and recording

Political systems of Civilizations:

- Highly centralized and well organized form of government.

- Clear hierarchy of officials with specific functions and responsibilities.
- Had a codified laws and rules
- Developed an organized, stable, and effective government to ensure the safety of the people and supervise the
production and distribution of food supply.

Social and Political Systems of the Sumerian, Egyptian,

Indus Valley and Shang Civilization

Social Class Sumer Egypt Indus Valley Shang

Political leader and Priests and Royalty Pharaoh Brahmin King Priest
highest social class
Other social classes 1. Wealthy 1. Gov’t 1. Kshatriyas
Merchants Officials 2. Vaisyas
2. Ordinary 2. Soldiers 3. Sudras
Workers 3. Scribes 4. Pariah
4. Merchants
5. Craftsmen
6. Peasants
7. Slaves