1. G-E-T P-A-S-T Your Guide to Capturing People in a Place in Time!
G-Geography and environment
E-Economic System
T-Technology
P-Political System
A-Arts, Ideas and Religious System
S-Social Structures
T-Transfers
How do historians categorize information? How do these categories affect a society?

2. Every society must accomplish the following:
Adapt to natural surroundings
Reproduce
Develop tools and shelter
Organize human labor to produce goods
Organize individuals into working groups
Develop a way of making collective decisions to govern
Develop knowledge, belief systems and values
As social scientists, it is our job to observe, document and analyze each of these challenges a society faces in a systematic way.
That is why we are going to establish a terms and a definitions for each category of analysis, this will allow everyone to use the same terms in discussions, assignments and essays without having to explain the meaning every time.

3. What are the ways in which these categories would define and/or affect a society?
Geography
Economy
Technology
Government/Political Systems
Arts, Ideas & Religious Systems
Social Structures
Transfers
Keep in mind that your definitions are going to change and evolve over time, but the definitions we come today will be a good foundation and starting point for you.
Another important point is that these elements are rarely encountered on their own. Most often we will see them combined – for example government actions can often affect the economy,
Let’s talk about the first category GEOGRAPHY. Who can give me a definition of geography?

4. Geography The study of the natural setting of a society
Includes features of the land and climate
Geographical features can change over time and necessitate changes in society
Here are some basic points about GEOGRAPHY.
Next Economy

5. Economy
The means and methods that a society uses for the production and distribution of goods and services
Societies don’t need to have money to have an economy
Next SOCIAL STRUCTURE.
Next Technology

6. Technology
The ways humans manipulate themselves and their natural environment (includes everything from early tools to sophisticated computers)
Consists of tools and knowledge specific to certain tasks
Next Political Systems

7. Political Systems
The ways in which many societies delegate the authority to make collective decisions and the power to enforce those decisions.
Some types of government:
Monarchy = one person rules
Oligarchy = a few people rule
Democracy = many people rule
Theocracy = government by religious leaders
Aristocracy = government based on family status
Plutocracy = based on wealth
Next CULTURE

8. Arts, Ideas, Religion
All the things a society passes on from generation to generation or the “collective mind” of a society = culture
Also includes shared values and beliefs
“High” or “Elite” culture vs. “Popular” culture
Being able to view multiple societies and cultures across time and distance will help you to begin to think like historians.

9. Social Structure
Organization of society members into groups and categories
Examples: families, clans and classes
Includes how societies view gender differences, age differences and economic differences
Next Transfer

10. Transfer
The transfer of beliefs, structures, institutions, technologies, diseases, etc. between civilizations.
Example: cultural diffusion