FOOD & SOCIETY FOOD & SOCIETY Pre - state societiesPre - state societies

food and societyfood and societyfood and societyfood and society

The relationship between society and food both The relationship between society and food both shapes and is contingent on the TYPE of society.shapes and is contingent on the TYPE of society.

division of labour, economic distribution, social organization, population size, ideologydivision of labour, economic distribution, social organization, population size, ideologysimple, complex, pre state, state, egalitarian, inegalitarian simple, complex, pre state, state, egalitarian, inegalitarian

These variable make up a society’sThese variable make up a society’sSOCIAL ENVIRONMENTSOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

The relationship between society and food both The relationship between society and food both shapes and is contingent on the TYPE of society.shapes and is contingent on the TYPE of society.

division of labour, economic distribution, social organization, population size, ideologydivision of labour, economic distribution, social organization, population size, ideologysimple, complex, pre state, state, egalitarian, inegalitarian simple, complex, pre state, state, egalitarian, inegalitarian

These variable make up a society’sThese variable make up a society’sSOCIAL ENVIRONMENTSOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

BiophysicalBiophysicalenvironmentenvironmentBiophysicalBiophysical

environmentenvironmentTechnology/Technology/

economyeconomyTechnology/Technology/

economyeconomyPopulationPopulationPopulationPopulation

Social Social OrganizationOrganization

Social Social OrganizationOrganization

IdeologyIdeologyIdeologyIdeology

Societal organization

Societies can be classified in many ways. Societies can be classified in many ways.

The most common and best established way to classify a full range of The most common and best established way to classify a full range of societies is the societies is the Technological Evolutionary Topology.Technological Evolutionary Topology.

• The system distinguishes between societies according to their The system distinguishes between societies according to their primary subsistence technology.primary subsistence technology.

Subsistence technology is defined as “the technology that is used by members of a Subsistence technology is defined as “the technology that is used by members of a society to obtain the basic necessities of life.” society to obtain the basic necessities of life.”

There is a strong causal relationship between the way a society adapts to There is a strong causal relationship between the way a society adapts to its biophysical environment, via its its biophysical environment, via its subsistence technologysubsistence technology and many and many other features: demographic characteristics (size, density) its social other features: demographic characteristics (size, density) its social

organizations well as its cultureorganizations well as its culture

6 type6 type Technological Evolutionary Topology.Technological Evolutionary Topology.6 type6 type Technological Evolutionary Topology.Technological Evolutionary Topology.

Hunting and Gathering (foragers)Hunting and Gathering (foragers)

Simple horticultural societiesSimple horticultural societiesAdvanced horticultural societiesAdvanced horticultural societies

Simple Agrarian societiesSimple Agrarian societiesAdvanced Agrarian societiesAdvanced Agrarian societies

Industrial societiesIndustrial societies

Hunting and Gathering (foragers)Hunting and Gathering (foragers)

Simple horticultural societiesSimple horticultural societiesAdvanced horticultural societiesAdvanced horticultural societies

Simple Agrarian societiesSimple Agrarian societiesAdvanced Agrarian societiesAdvanced Agrarian societies

Industrial societiesIndustrial societies

Societal organization

Another way societies can be classified is: Another way societies can be classified is:

The The Social Evolutionary Topology.Social Evolutionary Topology.

This system is based on the This system is based on the social social complexity complexity

relative degrees, and different kinds of social relative degrees, and different kinds of social complexity.complexity.

How simple or complex How simple or complex they are in their social organizationthey are in their social organization

• What that simplicity and complexity What that simplicity and complexity is composed ofis composed of

6 type6 type Social Evolutionary Topology.Social Evolutionary Topology.6 type6 type Social Evolutionary Topology.Social Evolutionary Topology.

PRE STATEPRE STATE

STATESTATE

TRANSITIONALTRANSITIONAL

Band societyBand society

Tribal Societies (Tribe)Tribal Societies (Tribe)

Chiefdom SocietyChiefdom Society

Agrarian state societyAgrarian state society

Industrial state societiesIndustrial state societies

Advanced industrial societiesAdvanced industrial societies

Band societyBand society

Tribal Societies (Tribe)Tribal Societies (Tribe)

Chiefdom SocietyChiefdom Society

Agrarian state societyAgrarian state society

Industrial state societiesIndustrial state societies

Advanced industrial societiesAdvanced industrial societies

simplesimple

complexcomplex

BAND societiesBAND societiesBAND societiesBAND societiesBAND society was the original / earliest form of human BAND society was the original / earliest form of human society..

It is also considered to be the simplest:It is also considered to be the simplest:

It has the smallest # of social units (roles, groups, institutions etc.)It has the smallest # of social units (roles, groups, institutions etc.)

BAND society has the lowest population density of any societal type.BAND society has the lowest population density of any societal type.They have relatively stable populations (BR = DR) / 10 - 30 individualsThey have relatively stable populations (BR = DR) / 10 - 30 individuals

Generally consists of a small kin group, no larger than anGenerally consists of a small kin group, no larger than an extended family or clan. extended family or clan.

It has been defined as consisting ofIt has been defined as consisting of no more than 100 individuals. no more than 100 individuals.

Their settlement pattern is NOMADICTheir settlement pattern is NOMADICFor several months of the year the BAND could be as large as 100 peopleFor several months of the year the BAND could be as large as 100 people

This was a ‘social ‘ phaseThis was a ‘social ‘ phase

The rest of the year the BAND would be between 10 - 50 individualsThe rest of the year the BAND would be between 10 - 50 individuals

This was a ‘private’ phaseThis was a ‘private’ phase

BAND society was the original / earliest form of human BAND society was the original / earliest form of human society..It is also considered to be the simplest:It is also considered to be the simplest:

It has the smallest # of social units (roles, groups, institutions etc.)It has the smallest # of social units (roles, groups, institutions etc.)

BAND society has the lowest population density of any societal type.BAND society has the lowest population density of any societal type.They have relatively stable populations (BR = DR) / 10 - 30 individualsThey have relatively stable populations (BR = DR) / 10 - 30 individuals

Generally consists of a small kin group, no larger than anGenerally consists of a small kin group, no larger than an extended family or clan. extended family or clan.

It has been defined as consisting ofIt has been defined as consisting of no more than 100 individuals. no more than 100 individuals.

Their settlement pattern is NOMADICTheir settlement pattern is NOMADICFor several months of the year the BAND could be as large as 100 peopleFor several months of the year the BAND could be as large as 100 people

This was a ‘social ‘ phaseThis was a ‘social ‘ phase

The rest of the year the BAND would be between 10 - 50 individualsThe rest of the year the BAND would be between 10 - 50 individuals

This was a ‘private’ phaseThis was a ‘private’ phase

TRIBALTRIBAL societiessocietiesTRIBALTRIBAL societiessocieties

A TRIBAL society is larger, denser and more social A TRIBAL society is larger, denser and more social structurally more complex than a band society.structurally more complex than a band society.

TRIBAL societies have COMPLEX kinship systemTRIBAL societies have COMPLEX kinship systemThe tribe can consists of anywhere from 50 - 3000 individuals.The tribe can consists of anywhere from 50 - 3000 individuals.

Their are 2 types of settlement patterns:Their are 2 types of settlement patterns:Semi permanent Semi permanent (associated with ‘slash and burn’)(associated with ‘slash and burn’)

Permanent Permanent (where environmental conditions were optimal)(where environmental conditions were optimal)

A TRIBAL society is larger, denser and more social A TRIBAL society is larger, denser and more social structurally more complex than a band society.structurally more complex than a band society.

TRIBAL societies have COMPLEX kinship systemTRIBAL societies have COMPLEX kinship systemThe tribe can consists of anywhere from 50 - 3000 individuals.The tribe can consists of anywhere from 50 - 3000 individuals.

Their are 2 types of settlement patterns:Their are 2 types of settlement patterns:Semi permanent Semi permanent (associated with ‘slash and burn’)(associated with ‘slash and burn’)

Permanent Permanent (where environmental conditions were optimal)(where environmental conditions were optimal)

Band societiesBand societiesBand societiesBand societiesHunting and Gathering Hunting and Gathering (foragers)(foragers)

* also fishing * also fishing

Subsistence economy:Subsistence economy:• Consume what they produceConsume what they produce

No division of labourNo division of labour • Division by sex and ageDivision by sex and age

Egalitarian social unitEgalitarian social unit

TechnologyTechnology• Human muscle powerHuman muscle power• Poison tip spears Poison tip spears

Food distribution:Food distribution: ReciprocityReciprocity: : involves exchange amongst kin: involves exchange amongst kin: The mutual sharing of surpluses in the form of The mutual sharing of surpluses in the form of reciprocal giving.reciprocal giving.

Hunting and Gathering Hunting and Gathering (foragers)(foragers)* also fishing * also fishing

Subsistence economy:Subsistence economy:• Consume what they produceConsume what they produce

No division of labourNo division of labour • Division by sex and ageDivision by sex and age

Egalitarian social unitEgalitarian social unit

TechnologyTechnology• Human muscle powerHuman muscle power• Poison tip spears Poison tip spears

Food distribution:Food distribution: ReciprocityReciprocity: : involves exchange amongst kin: involves exchange amongst kin: The mutual sharing of surpluses in the form of The mutual sharing of surpluses in the form of reciprocal giving.reciprocal giving.

Horticulture cultivationHorticulture cultivationform of gardening that involve only the planting, form of gardening that involve only the planting, weeding, harvesting and storage of foodstuffs.weeding, harvesting and storage of foodstuffs.

• NO USE OF the plow, draft animals, NO USE OF the plow, draft animals, fertilization, crop rotation.fertilization, crop rotation.• Irrigation is simpleIrrigation is simple

Hunting and gathering and fishingHunting and gathering and fishing

PASTORALISMPASTORALISM (the breeding and caring of animals)(the breeding and caring of animals)

Egalitarian social unitEgalitarian social unit

Technology:Technology: • Hoe or digging stickHoe or digging stick• Small plots of land - shift from place to placeSmall plots of land - shift from place to place

Food distribution:Food distribution: ReciprocityReciprocity: : involves exchange amongst kin: involves exchange amongst kin: The mutual sharing of surpluses in the form of The mutual sharing of surpluses in the form of reciprocal giving.reciprocal giving.

Horticulture cultivationHorticulture cultivationform of gardening that involve only the planting, form of gardening that involve only the planting, weeding, harvesting and storage of foodstuffs.weeding, harvesting and storage of foodstuffs.

• NO USE OF the plow, draft animals, NO USE OF the plow, draft animals, fertilization, crop rotation.fertilization, crop rotation.• Irrigation is simpleIrrigation is simple

Hunting and gathering and fishingHunting and gathering and fishing

PASTORALISMPASTORALISM (the breeding and caring of animals)(the breeding and caring of animals)

Egalitarian social unitEgalitarian social unit

Technology:Technology: • Hoe or digging stickHoe or digging stick• Small plots of land - shift from place to placeSmall plots of land - shift from place to place

Food distribution:Food distribution: ReciprocityReciprocity: : involves exchange amongst kin: involves exchange amongst kin: The mutual sharing of surpluses in the form of The mutual sharing of surpluses in the form of reciprocal giving.reciprocal giving.

Tribal societiesTribal societiesTribal societiesTribal societies

Digging sticksDigging sticksDigging sticksDigging sticks

Yanomami Yanomami TribeTribe

Yanomami Yanomami TribeTribe

Yanomami semi permanent ‘village’ Yanomami semi permanent ‘village’ Yanomami semi permanent ‘village’ Yanomami semi permanent ‘village’

Band shelterBand shelterBand shelterBand shelter