Introduction
Studies on how past societies operated are very crucial in gaining insights into the historical evolution of civilizations. In the context of this analysis, society can be defined as a collective of individuals residing within a shared geographical location sharing common beliefs, norms or laws, thus fostering an interpersonal relationship. In this discussion, the hunter-gatherer society will be looked into. The hunter-gatherer society majorly depended on hunting and gathering for sustenance. There are differences and also similarities between this historical society and the contemporary postindustrial society, which will be highlighted in this discussion.
Describing the Hunter Gatherer, Similarities and Differences
The hunter-gatherer society is from ancient times, and they relied on hunting and gathering for survival. According to Barnard (2020), the community was majorly nomadic, living in small groups, not settling in one place for an extended period of time and fostering a close-knit relationship within their groups. Scenes (2018) claims that the groups valued family units, and this can be taken as a similarity with contemporary society. In contemporary society, there is a value placed on family units. Additionally, the hunter-gatherer society was dependent on the collective effort of its people for survival. In the current society, the society also depends on collective efforts for survival, though the nature of efforts has evolved. The kind of efforts people rely on include education initiatives and policy-making, environmental conservation, and social support networks, among others.
On the contrary, there are notable differences between this ancient society and the modern society. One major difference is the shift from the nomadic lifestyle to a settled lifestyle, where people now live in fixed locations. This transition has enabled modern society to have an immediate environment to which they can easily relate. Furthermore, there has been a transformation of people having a subsistence lifestyle where people primarily focus on catering to their daily bread or basic needs for survival in a service-oriented economy. In the present day, the focus has shifted towards providing and consuming various services, thus marking a difference in the past when the focus was obtained from a direct resource (O’Meara et al., 2018). Some of these changes highlight the transformations in the societal structures that have unfolded over the course of history, especially transitioning from ancient times to the contemporary postindustrial era.
Societal Perspectives on Hunter-Gatherer Society
Structural Functional Perspectives
From a structural, functional perspective, a hunter-gatherer society would be viewed as a cohesive system where each component plays a role in maintaining the entire stability of the community. The community would subdivide different roles to different families or society groups. Though it might be seen as minimal, the division of labour served a functional purpose, ensuring that necessary tasks such as hunting, gathering, and communal responsibilities were fulfilled collectively. The structure of the society appeared to be interdependent, but this interdependence of individuals is seen as essential for the smooth functioning and survival of the society.
Social conflict Perspective
Looking into the hunter-gatherer society from a social conflict perspective, there is an understanding that focuses on the power struggles and the inequalities witnessed within the community. The viewpoint suggests that as the individuals within the group interact, there may be disparities which will naturally arise, especially in terms of vital resources and involvement in decision-making processes. In the context of a hunter-gatherer society, potential conflict might arise based on differences in individual capabilities, thus creating a scenario where some members get access to essential resources for survival than others. This negotiation of power within a group shapes interpersonal relationships and also contributes to the formation of social hierarchies, thus influencing the entire structure and stability of the hunter-gatherer society.
Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
From the symbolic interactionist perspective, one focuses towards the interactions and shared meanings within the hunter-gatherer society. From this perspective, individuals engage in symbolic exchanges where language, gestures and rituals become very significant tools in creating shared understandings of their roles and relationships. Symbols of this society are mainly associated with activities such as hunting, gathering, celebrations and communal rituals. These symbolic activities serve as language within this society through which the members communicate and interpret their world and way of living. Therefore, they are able to nurture a shared sense of identity and cohesion among the members of society. Thus, in the context of hunter-gatherer society, the symbolic interactionist perspective highlights the role of shared symbols in construction and reinforcing the social bonds that contribute to the unity of the community.
Conclusion
In sum, this analysis looked into the historical context of the hunter-gatherer society, looking majorly at its characteristics and drawing comparisons with the contemporary postindustrial society. The hunter-gatherer community relied on hunting and gathering for survival. The displayed similarities with present-day society include putting value in family units and depending on collective efforts for survival. However, notable differences also emerge, which include a shift from the nomadic lifestyle to the permanent residence. Also, modern society is more linked to economic growth-led activities, while hunter-gatherers society only looked into fulfilling their basic needs. Moreover, examining the hunter-gatherer society using various sociological perspectives brought out significant insights. From a structural, functional perspective, there is an interdependence of individuals that is evident, and this allows for the smooth functioning of society. The symbolic interactionist identity highlights the significance of shared symbols in fostering identity and cohesion within the community, while the social conflict perspective touches on power struggles and inequalities within the hunter-gatherer society. Therefore, this analysis helps to bring out an understanding of societal structures across different historical periods, thus providing a view of human civilization over a period of time.
References
Barnard, A. (2020). Hunter-gatherers in history, archaeology and anthropology: Introductory essay. Hunter-Gatherers in History, Archaeology and Anthropology, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003085645-1
O’Meara, C., Burenhult, N., Rothstein, M., & Sercombe, P. (2018). Representing space and place: Hunter-gatherer perspectives. Hunter Gatherer Research, 4(3), 287-309. https://doi.org/10.3828/hgr.2018.19
Scanes, C. G. (2018). Hunter–gatherers. Animals and Human Society, 65-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-805247-1.00004-6
Sorrentino, R., Stephens, N. B., Carlson, K. J., Figus, C., Fiorenza, L., Frost, S., Harcourt‐Smith, W., Parr, W., Saers, J., Turley, K., Wroe, S., Belcastro, M. G., Ryan, T. M., & Benazzi, S. (2019). The influence of mobility strategy on the modern human talus. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 171(3), 456-469. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.23976
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