Week 2: Premodern Society

Question 1

What are the types of pre-modern society?

Answer 1

hunting and gathering
horticultural and pastoral
agrarian (agricultural).

Question 2

What is agrarian?

Answer 2

Agrarian societies differ from one another more than hunting and gathering or horticultural and pastoral societies because of advancing technology and their enhanced control over the natural world. Examples of agrarian societies include:
ancient Egypt
medieval Europe
contemporary non-industrial societies.

Question 3

How long were humans hunters and gathers?

Answer 3

All humans were hunters and gathers until about 12,000 years ago.

Hunting and gathering societies were often highly complex cultural systems with intricate kinship relations and responsibilities, ceremonies and more time for cultural pursuits than modern societies.