The Early

Types of
Societies
Specific Learning Objectives:

a) explain the different types of societies

b) analyze how societies evolve through time
c) produce an illustrated timeline that clearly shows
the major developments and changes that
happened to human society from the hunting
and gathering stage to the post-industrial stage.
 The Early Types of Societies

1. Hunting and Gathering

2. Horticultural and Pastoral
3. Agricultural
4. Industrial
5. Post-industrial
 The Early Types of Societies

Hunting and Gathering Societies

The oldest and most basic way of

economic subsistence is hunting and
gathering 12,000 years ago. Inhabitants
produce simple forms of tools to hunt for
animals and gather plants and vegetation for
food. They do not have permanent
settlements. Most of the time, they live in
caves, pit or underground houses that dug
and covered with tree branches and leaves.
 The Early Types of Societies

Hunting and Gathering Societies

These societies lived in small groups with only

20-30 members. If there were an abundant supply
of food, members increased to 40-50. They usually
have a shaman or a priest who acts as the leader of
the group. They also believe that spirits live in the
world.
 The Early Types of Societies

Horticultural and Pastoral Societies

Horticultural societies were

developed around 10, 000 years ago and
they are described as semisedentary
societies because they do not frequently
move as opposed to hunting and gathering
societies. These societies subsist through
small-scale farming.
 The Early Types of Societies

Horticultural and Pastoral Societies

Horticultural societies were developed around

10, 000 years ago and they are described as
semisedentary societies because they do not
frequently move as opposed to hunting and
gathering societies. These societies subsist through
small-scale farming. There is a surplus of food
supply in these societies.
 The Early Types of Societies

Horticultural and Pastoral Societies

Pastoral societies developed around 10,

000 years ago. The principal means of
subsistence is animal domestication.
Pastoralists are also engaged in small-scale
trading with other groups. Both horticultural
and pastoral societies are described as unequal
social relations because some members act as
 The Early Types of Societies

Agricultural Societies

Agricultural societies began 5,000

years ago. During this time, the
Neolithic Revolution occurred. During
this period, people produced
cultivation tools and developed
farming skills to support a town with a
population of over a thousand people.
 The Early Types of Societies

Agricultural Societies

Animal domestication also provided

important contributions during this period.
The domestication of cattle and sheep
provided the people additional sources of
nutrition. Animal horns and bones were also
utilized for making needles and other utensils,
while animal manure was used as fertilizers.
 The Early Types of Societies

Agricultural Societies

Agricultural societies developed and

their population increased into millions. They
also settled permanently and improved the
technology for farming. As the society
developed and its members developed
specialization, money become a form of
exchange replacing the barter system.
 The Early Types of Societies

Industrial Societies

Industrial societies began during the

late 18th century. During the Industrial
Revolution, new sources were harnessed,
advance forms of technology were applied,
and machineries were invented. These
changes led to the transformation of
agricultural society into a production and
manufacturing-based one.
 The Early Types of Societies

Industrial Societies

It created centralized workplaces,

economic interdependence, formal education,
and complex social systems. During this time,
people left their farm lands and transferred to
the urban areas to work in factories.
 The Early Types of Societies

Post-Industrial Societies

The Post-Industrial Revolution is an

important development from the Industrial
Revolution as economic production focused
on the use and application of new
information technology rather factories.
Production centers on computers and other
electronic devices that create, process, and
apply ideas and information.
 The Early Types of Societies

Post-Industrial Societies

It is characterized by the following:

1. Transfer of labor workforce from manufacturing to service
2. A significant increase in the number of professional and
technical employment and a decline in the number of
skilled and semi-skilled workers.
3. Education as the basis of social mobility
4. Human capital as an essential aspect of understanding the
strength of society.
 The Early Types of Societies

Post-Industrial Societies

It is characterized by the following:

5. Application of “intellectual technology” which is
based on the application of math and linguistics
and the use of algorithms and software
programming models
6. Focus on communication infrastructure
7. Knowledge as source of invention and innovation
 Activity 1: Table Completion
What are the major characteristics and developments of the different stages of
societies?
STAGES CHARACTERISTICS

HUNTING AND GATHERING

HORTICULTURAL AND PASTORAL

AGRICULTURAL

INDUSTRIAL

POST-INDUSTRIAL
STAGES CHARACTERISTICS

HUNTING AND • economic subsistence is

GATHERING hunting and gathering
• They do not have permanent
settlements.
• These societies lived in small
groups with only 20-30
members
• relationship between men
and women are equal.
STAGES CHARACTERISTICS
HORTICULTURAL AND • They are described as
PASTORAL semisedentary societies
• These societies subsist
through small-scale farming.
• The principal means of
subsistence is animal
domestication.
STAGES CHARACTERISTICS

AGRICULTURAL • began 5,000 years ago

• people produced cultivation tools and
developed farming skills to support a
town
• Animal domestication also provided
important contributions during this
period.
• money become a form of exchange
replacing the barter system.
STAGES CHARACTERISTICS

INDUSTRIAL • began during the late 18 th

century
• transformation into a production
and manufacturing-based one.
• created centralized workplaces,
economic interdependence,
formal education, and complex
social systems.
STAGES CHARACTERISTICS
POST-INDUSTRIAL • economic production focused on the use and
application of new information technology rather
factories
• Transfer of labor workforce from manufacturing to
service
• A significant increase in the number of professional
and technical employment and a decline in the number
of skilled and semi-skilled workers.
• Education as the basis of social mobility
• Human capital as an essential aspect of understanding
the strength of society.
• Application of “intellectual technology” which is based
on the application of math and linguistics and the use
of algorithms and software programming model
• Focus on communication infrastructure
• Knowledge as source of invention and innovation