2. What is a society?
a shared, learned, symbolic system of values,
beliefs and attitudes that shapes and influences
perception and behavior -- an abstract "mental
blueprint" or "mental code."
A shared perception of reality
Commonly known as
“Commonly known as”
Common sense
“They say”
“Everybody knows”
4/16/2014 2www.drjayeshpatidar.blogspot.com
3. Why bother with societies and
cultures?
Humans are weak
Societies are mutual support pacts
4/16/2014 3www.drjayeshpatidar.blogspot.com
4. Let’s build a society
An individual
Two people
More than two…
Or twenty…
Or twenty million
1st purpose of a society: reduce friction between
people in the society
2nd purpose: separate one society from others
4/16/2014 4www.drjayeshpatidar.blogspot.com
5. Early Human Culture
Small groups of around 25
Gatherer/hunters
Nomadic
Limited possessions
more permanent settlements
Became tribes
xenophobia
4/16/2014 5www.drjayeshpatidar.blogspot.com
6. End of the Ice Age
About 12,000 BCE
The high grasslands began to dry out
Tribes migrated down into the river valleys
looking for food
Tigris/Euphrates
Indus
Yellow
Nile
4/16/2014 6www.drjayeshpatidar.blogspot.com
7. The first great change
4/16/2014 7www.drjayeshpatidar.blogspot.com