Pre-Industrial Revolution Societies

- Are those societies that existed in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Some cultures
today may resemble these past societies in some ways and thus be categorized as pre-
industrial. During this time period, the most economic activity took place at the level of
subsistence, these are based on the production of tangible goods and for the survival of a
family unit.
- There were few specialized occupations, and economic activity was constrained by the
amount of work that a human being could produce.The very first occupation was that of
hunter-gatherer.
1. Hunter-Gatherer - these organizations were founded on families or tribes, which served as
the foundation of human society until 10,000–12,000 years ago. Hunting wild animals
and gathering uncultivated plants for food were two ways that hunter-gatherers resorted
to their environment to survive. They were nomadic because when resources were
limited, they relocated to a new location to find food.
2. Pastoral – these societies relied on domesticating animals where conditions permitted as a
result of changing environments and adaptations. Human societies started to appreciate
their capacity to domesticate and breed animals, as well as grow and nurture their own
plants, some 7,500 years ago.Pastoral societies, as compared to earlier hunter-gatherers,
were able to raise animals for food, clothing, and transportation, and thus produced a lot
of products. Because they had to lead their livestock to new feeding grounds, pastoral or
herding societies remained nomadic.
3. Horticultural - horticultural societies emerged in regions with adequate rainfall and other
factors for growing dependable crops. They were similar to hunter-gatherers in that they
relied heavily on the environment for survival, but they were able to establish permanent
settlements since they didn't have to move to follow resources. As a result, there was an
increase in stability and material commodities, which served as the foundation for the
first revolution in human survival.
4. Agricultural - Metal was used to create new digging and harvesting implements, which
increased their durability and efficacy. Towns and cities were born from human
settlements, and especially wealthy areas developed into centers of trade and commerce.
- Furthermore, throughout this period, people had the leisure and comfort of engaging in
deeper activities like music, poetry, and philosophy. Some people refer to this time as the
"dawn of civilization" because of the growth of leisure and the humanities. Craftspeople
were able to support themselves by producing imaginative, attractive, or thought-
provoking writings and items.
5. Feudal - Feudal societies first emerged in the ninth century. These cultures had a strictly
organized hierarchy of power centered on land ownership and protection. The ruling
class, sometimes known as lords, gave control of certain lands to vassals. Vassals pledged
to battle for their masters in exchange for the resources that the land given.

- Fiefdoms are small plots of land that were farmed by members of the lower class.
Peasants were promised a home and defense from outside rivals in exchange for caring
for the land. Family lines were used to pass down power, with peasant families serving
rulers for countless years. In the end, capitalism and the industrial era's technological
advancements succeeded feudalism as a social and economic order.