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”
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3. Why bother with societies and
cultures?
Humans are weak
Societies are mutual support pacts
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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
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5. Early Human Culture
Small groups of around 25
Gatherer/hunters
Nomadic
Limited possessions
more permanent settlements
Became tribes
xenophobia
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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
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7. The first great change
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