14. Social Organization Flashcards
what is social organization?
refers to how communities are structured and how people interact
within these structures
Social organization can be understood by examining:
City layout and evolution: How cities were designed and adapted over time to facilitate social interactions
Social Stratification: The division into either elites and commoners (and possibly a small “middle class”), each with distinct responsibilities, rights, and influence levels
Roles, Statuses, and Relationships: The roles and statuses people held, shaping identities
and supporting both daily life and political hierarchies
How do we study “social organization?”
Archaeological evidence
Monumental architecture and city plans
Epigraphy (study of written text) and iconography
Spatial analysis and settlement patterns
Comparative analysis, including
ethnography and historical sources
how to do we study “social organization” Cont’d (Archaeological examples)
Archaeological evidence
Residential structures, burial practices,
artifacts (Pakal’s palace compared to a simple commoner
residential group)
Material indicators of social
stratification
(Funerary mask of Yuknoom Yich’aak K’ahk
of Calakmul compared to shell grave offerings to
a commoner at Minanha, Beliz)
how to do we study “social organization” Cont’d (Monumental architecture and city plans)
Monumental architecture and city plans
Temples, palaces, plazas, and ball courts
(Calakmul’s massive urban plan, infrastructure, and monumental
architecture all serve as symbols of elite power)
Central precincts as symbols of elite power
vs commoner neighborhoods
how to do we study “social organization” Cont’d (Epigraphy and iconography)
Epigraphy and iconography
Hieroglyphic texts on monuments and
stelae
Depictions of rulers, rituals, and social
roles
examples:
1. Stela 31 at Tikal tells us about
the “Entrada” in 378 CE
2.Altar 9 at Tikal tells us how Tikal
regained its power by defeating Kaanu
- Altar 21 at Caracol tells us how Tikal is
defeated and loses its “superpower”
status
how to do we study “social organization” Cont’d (Spatial analysis and settlement patterns)
Spatial analysis and settlement
patterns
Distributions of dwellings, plaza, and
ceremonial spaces
Proximity and clustering as indicators
of social relationships (neighborhoods
and districts)
Example: Spatial analyses of Classic period sites
southern Belize reveal urban districts and
neighborhoods, social grouping that reflect
local scale social organization
how to do we study “social organization” Cont’d (Comparative Analysis)
Comparative analysis
Cross-cultural
comparisons within and
outside of Mesoamerica
Maya Urbanism
Maya settlements conform to the low-
density agrarian-based urbanism model
Cities are the most prominent features
in the landscape, functioning as:
-Political centers
-Religious sites
-Economic hubs
-The center of urban social life
Cities are part of larger settlement
network consisting of:
- Towns, villages, and hamlets
- Rural areas with dispersed smallholder
households agricultural lands and
people exploiting other valued resources
Villages: Joya de Ceren, El Salvador
A ca. 12-acre village buried by
volcanic ash in 595 CE when the
Laguna Caldera Volcano erupted
A small farming village, home to an
estimated 200 people
People produced agave fibers, manos,
metates, and pottery vessels while
acquiring imports such as obsidian,
jade, and fancy pottery from Copan
Remarkably well preserved, with
structures, gardens, fields and other
features preserved
Towns: Alabama,
Belize
A small town, home to about
1,000 people.
Small plazas, temple-pyramids,
ballcourt, short causeway (sacbe - raised white road to connect city centres)
Established around 600 CE and
occupied in places until around
1100 CE, and then reoccupied
after 1300 CE
Agriculture, fishing, local pottery
production, granite working.
At peak, tied into economic and
political network of larger centers
in the region
Engaged in coastal and inland
trade for regional (chert) and
long-distance items (obsidian).
Cities: Classic Period Tikal
A sprawling megalopolis, with
60,000-90,000 people within 120
km2 core area
Temple-pyramids and other ritual
features such as large plazas
Elite palaces and residences
Intrasite causeways (sacbeob)
Ballcourts
Water infrastructure (reservoirs)
A central marketplace
Multi-nodal and Peri-Urban Development
Multi-nodal development refers to an urban planning concept where a city or metropolitan area is developed with multiple, distinct centers (or “nodes”) of activity, rather than a single central business district (CBD)
Key aspects of MND: (Decentralization, improved connectivity, Sustainable urban growth, Local economic development)
Peri-urban development refers to the growth and expansion of urban areas into their surrounding rural or semi-rural regions, often forming a transitional zone between the urban core and rural areas. This area, called the “peri-urban” zone, can include agricultural land, small towns, or undeveloped land that becomes integrated into the urban fabric as cities expand outward. (i.e Calgary basically)
Key Aspects of PUD: (Urban sprawl, mixed land use, infrastructure strain, social and economic transition)
Districts and Neighborhoods
Neighborhoods are increasingly viewed as
critical components of urban social
organization
Spatial clusters of residential settlement
have been identified as neighborhoods
( artifact distributions, and environmental features used to identify
neighborhoods)
Clusters facilitated regular face-to-face contact
Face-to-face contact = cooperation,
resource-sharing, and collective identities
among residents
Several neighborhoods cluster together to
form districts, which often have civic
infrastructure
District/Neighborhood Infrastructure
Administrative complexes
Religious infrastructure
Shared/communal water features
Marketplaces
Residences
The most abundant feature on the landscape
of all Maya settlements of all sizes and scale
Most are small, relatively unelaborate, and the
homes of ordinary people
Residential groups were rebuilt and added to
over multiple generations.
