Ch 20: Societies in Anthropology
About This Chapter
Societies in Anthropology - Chapter Summary and Learning Objectives
In anthropology, a society is a group of people who share a territory and are linked together by social interaction. Societies may be classified according to how the people in it produce food. In this chapter, you'll take a look at different types of societies and analyze their production and consumption habits. By the end of the chapter, you should be able to:
- Name the social and cultural traits of foraging societies
- Give examples of horticultural societies
- Describe the history and distinguishing features of agricultural societies
- Name the social and cultural traits of pastoral societies
- Describe how societies organize their production, distribution and consumption
- Explain what motivates the people in a society to produce, distribute and consume
| Video | Objective |
|---|---|
| Social and Cultural Traits of Foraging Societies | Explore the lifestyles and practices of foraging societies as well as what distinguishes these peoples from other types of civilizations |
| What Are Horticultural Societies? - Traits and Examples | Learn about the culture and customs of horticultural societies and the types of tools used by these peoples |
| Agricultural Societies: Definition, History & Distinguishing Features | Discover the types of people who practice cultivation and farming as their way of life, and find out how they differ from horticultural societies |
| Understanding Pastoral Societies | Look at the practices and customs of pastoral societies and learn how these nomadic people make a living |
| How Societies Organize their Production, Distribution & Consumption | Explain the methods different societies have for organizing their production, distribution and consumption |
| The Motivation to Produce, Distribute & Consume within Society | Learn about what factors drive individuals within a society to produce, distribute, exchange and consume |
1. Social and Cultural Traits of Foraging Societies
This lesson will explain foraging societies. It will focus on their small communities, their nomadic lifestyles, and their relative lack of political structure and social stratification.
2. What Are Horticultural Societies? - Traits and Examples
This lesson will seek to explain what horticulture is and different types of horticultural societies. In doing so, it will highlight the Yanomami society of the Amazon and the Samoans of the South Pacific.
3. Agricultural Societies: Definition, History & Distinguishing Features
This lesson will seek to define intensive agriculture. In doing so, it will highlight the concepts of subsistence versus commercialization. It will also define cash crops and agribusinesses.
4. Understanding Pastoral Societies
This lesson will seek to explain the cultural traits of pastoral societies. In doing so, it will also explain the difference between an intensive and an extensive pastoral system.
5. How Societies Organize Their Production
This lesson will seek to explain the different ways in which societies organize their production. In doing so, it will define domestic, tributary, and capitalist production, as well as postindustrialism.
6. The Motivation to Produce, Distribute & Consume within Society
This lesson will seek to explain the motivation for differing economies across the globe. In doing so, it will highlight the concepts of subsistence, profit motive, and cash crops.
Earning College Credit
Did you know… We have over 160 college courses that prepare you to earn credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. You can test out of the first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Anyone can earn credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level.
To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page
Transferring credit to the school of your choice
Not sure what college you want to attend yet? Study.com has thousands of articles about every imaginable degree, area of study and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you.
Other Chapters
Other chapters within the Anthropology 101: General Anthropology course
- Introduction to Anthropology
- Theoretical Perspectives of Anthropology
- The Molecular and Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance
- Transmission/Mendelian Genetics
- Population Genetics and Evolution
- DNA Damage, Mutation, and Repair
- Physical Anthropology
- Geologic Time and Anthropology
- Archaeology and Anthropology
- The Origin and Dispersal of Humans and Culture
- Effects of Population on the Environment
- Domestication of Plants and Animals
- Ethnicity and Geography
- Geography of Land Resources
- The Nature of Culture
- Art and Anthropology
- Language and Communication
- Spatial Processes
- Settlement Patterns
- Economic Systems
- Marriage, Family, and Kinship
- Political Organization
- Religion
- Modernization and Application of Anthropology
