Social Change ECOLOGY AND SOCIO-CULTURAL EVOLUTION Cultures are first and foremost means of adapting to physical environments, and physical environments shape (enable and constrain) cultural development. Adaptation changes over time as humans alter their environments.

Social Change Three important concepts: division of labor surplus wealth structural complexity (division of labor and surplus wealth are reciprocally related).

Social Change Hunting and Gathering Societies -- (all human societies until about 10,000 years ago)

Social Change Pastoral and Horticultural Societies - (emerged about 10-12,000 years ago). The key feature of both is that for the first time surplus wealth became possible.

Social Change Agricultural Societes (emerged about 6,000 years ago, "neolithic revolution"). Most of work force does agri work (peasants) + small “ruling class” (prop owners, warlords)

Social Change Industrial Societies -(began rapid development with industrial revolution in England in 1600's). Transition from rural peasantry to urban industrial wage workers + “ruling class” of capitalists and landowners

Social Change Post Industrial Societies -(Since the end of World War II) Transition from agri and indus workforce to “service” workforce + “corporateocracy”

Social Change What drives/causes these changes? Environment? Demography? New “technologies”? (cult diffusion) Expansion (war, conquest, etc.)?