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Society

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• Society is the web of social relationship
• Society is a system of usages and procedures of
authority and mutual aid, many groupings and
division of controls of human behavior and of
liberties
• Societies evolved from simple , food gathering

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societies to the complex modern societies
• The term “Society” has been derived from the
Latin word “Socius” which means a companion, 4
association and fellowship
• According to George Simmel, sociability is the essence of
society
• Society is a complex pattern of norms, interaction and
relationship arises among the group of people
• A person exists only as an agent of social relationships

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• Mere congregation of individuals does not constitute society
• Society is abstract, not concrete
• Society resides in the minds of individual
• Society is a process of living
• Society is a motion rather than a structure
 Society(Evolution) 5

 HUNTING, FISHING AND

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 HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
 PASTORAL SOCIETY
 AGRARIAN SOCIETY
 INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY
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Hunting, Fishing and Gathering Societies
• Subsistence economy and They produce no surplus
• Household and clan were the basic unit of social
organization
• Household and clan were based on family and kinship ties
• A band rarely exceeds 50 people in size

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• Band were nomadic or semi nomadic
• Members of these societies accumulate few personal
possessions
• Division of labor was and based on age and sex
• Men participate in hunting and deep sea fishing
• Women participated in gathering, shore fishing and
preserving
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• There exists very few inequalities by age and sex
• Members possess little wealth
• They have few hereditary privileges
• Societies were too small to develop class distinction
• Individuals were homogenous

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• People generally have the same everyday
experiences
 Horticultural Societies 8
• Economic surplus was the first indicator of
horticultural societies
• People began to plant and cultivate crops
• Technology was very primitive. Such as digging stick
• Occasionally a rudimentary hoe
• Some people could take time off from basic production and
turn to other pursuits: art , religion, writings and warfare

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• A class hierarchy develops between peasants
• Horticultural societies has developed complex and stable
institutions outside the family
• Religion, government, hereditary ruler developed
• Sometimes societies were very large
• The Inca empire included more than four million population
 Agricultural Societies 9
• Second agricultural revolution occurred approximately
5,000 to 6,000 years ago
• Food production was doubled and redoubled through
better technology
• The advances included the harnessing of animals, metal
tools, use of wheel, improved knowledge of irrigation and

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fertilization
• More people were freed from direct production
• Technology, trade, reading and writing, science and art
grew rapidly
• There were inequalities based on occupational diversity
and specialization
• Complex class system developed
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Industrial Societies
• The third major revolution in production was the advent of
industrialization around 200 years ago in western Europe
• The substitution of mechanical, electrical and fossil-fuel energy
for human and animal labor caused an explosive growth of
productivity
• This productivity was not only on goods but also of technology

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and knowledge
• The enormous increase in technology, energy and knowledge
freed the bulk of work force from agricultural and industrial
production
• Political, economic and social character of society has been
changed
• Education as an old institution changed dramatically
• New institution such as science, medicine and law have
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Characteristics of Society
1. Group of Groups
• Society is the group of groups
• It is not just like a crowd
• It is a system
• It consist of innumerable groups which fulfil the various

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needs of the people
• Family, neighbor, village , city, labor association,
religious gathering, political parties are examples
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2. Web of Social Relations
• The reciprocal contact between two or more persons
• Relationships have wide range –
 Teacher – student
 Doctor – patient
 Husband – wife

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 Parent – children
 Voter - candidates
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3. Likeness
• Likeness is essential for society
• People have similarities on the basis of needs, works,
aims, ideals, values
• These similarities inspire the people to interact, like
each other and live together

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• People feel mutual intimacy, co-operation, love and
affection, sympathy, sacrifice, feeling of
belongingness.
• People of same nature and behavior live together in
society
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4 .Differences
• Interest, talent, ability, attitude, intelligence etc. are
the natural differences among people
• Farmers, doctors, teachers, solders, engineers,
advocate and others working in different capacities

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5. Co-operation and Division of Labor
• People generally share their joys and sorrows
• The mutual co-operation between male and female
is essential for the reproduction of human race and
lead to the growth of culture and civilization
• The division of labor depends on peoples interest,

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ability, sex and age etc.
• Due to division of labor in various fields tasks are
performed more efficiently
• Skilled and specialized persons have more
importance in modern societies
• Co-operation and division of labor are reciprocal
6.Interdependence 16
• Family is a primary institution based on
interdependence of members
• Communities are also inter dependent
• Every individual also interdependent with the growth
of industrialization and civilization

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7.Social Control
• Society has formal and informal means of social control
• Formal means of social controls are – law, legislation,
police, court and other formal means
• Customs, folkways, mores, traditions are informal means
of social control

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8. Society is dynamic
• Society keeps on changing forever
• No society can ever remain constant for a long period
• Association, Institution and groups may introduce new
beginning
• Changing may take place slowly or suddenly at a

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rapid pace
• Rural society changes at a slower pace
• Urban society changes at a faster pace
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