Industrial Societies
Industrialism … The production of goods using advanced sources of energy to drive large machinery
When, and How? 18th to end of 19th Century Characterized by a reliance on mechanical labor to create material goods EX: Water Power; Steam power (industrial) EX: human power; animal power (pre-industrial)
Benefits … Labor intensive tasks completed more quickly (months days) Better quality Goods produced faster, less expensively Increase in standard of living; More luxuries available to the average person (paper, glass, gas lights) Increase in trade specialization: factory jobs (assembly line; textile mills), coal fields Urbanization Increase in cultural diversity Increase in access to education
Benefits continued … Technological advancement: Seeders; threshing machines Railroads, steam ships, skyscrapers, automobiles Electricity, home appliances (refrigerators, washing machines) Telegraphs, telephones, radio, tv, computers
Drawbacks … Shift in focus from maintaining family land and traditions to upward mobility Erosion of traditional agrarian values Weakening of relationships and family ties
Post-industrial societies “Information Societies” “Digital societies”
aim: Students will be able to: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the characteristics of Post-Industrial Societies and the benefits and drawbacks of technology Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Gerhard Lenski’s theory of socio- cultural revolution and related beliefs about societal implications of technology Apply learned information by exploring the ways in which technology has both improved and negatively impacted society
Post-Industrialism … The production of information and services using computer technology Electronic devices that create, process, store, and apply information
Characterized by … Use of less labor force for industrial production (+/-) More jobs are available for those who process information (+/-) Driven by knowledge As opposed to material goods Requires Information-based skills and services EX: programming ; consultancy as opposed to mechanical skills
Benefits of technology … Increase in productivity More personal freedom Brings people together
Drawbacks … Lack of a sense of community Nuclear weaponry Environmental threats Negative impact of Lack of access to education and technical skills
Gerhard Lenski
Types of societies Pre-Industrial Industrial Post-Industrial Hunter-gatherer Horticultural/pastoral Agricultural Industrial Post-Industrial
Socio-Cultural revolution Refers to the changes that occur as a society gains new technology
Lenski’s beliefs … The more technology a society has, the faster it changes (converse) Technology improves society by raising the standards of living Technology fails to solve all social problems Social problem = “social conditions that disrupt or damage society” (EX: social inequality; crime; racism) Social issues = larger scale; bring in the element of morality
Lenski’s Beliefs Continued … Technology increases some problems Struggle over resources ($; Jobs) between social classes within a society Loss of human connection Environmental issues – reliance upon energy sources that impact the earth’s resouces WMDs
Group activity … In groups of 3: Answer the following questions: What new technologies have emerged in your lifetime? How has technology improved society? How has technology negatively impacted society?