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Traditional society: definition. Features of traditional society

Society is a complex natural and historical structure, the elements of which are people. Their connections and relationships are determined by the specific social status, functions and roles they perform, norms and values that are generally accepted in the system, as well as their individual qualities. The society is divided into three types: traditional, industrial and post-industrial. Each of them has its own distinctive features and functions.

In this article, a traditional society (definition, characteristics, basics, examples, etc.) will be considered.

What it is?

The modern man of the industrial age, unfamiliar with the history and social sciences, may not understand what "traditional society" is. The definition of this concept will be considered below.

Traditional society functions on the basis of traditional values. Often it is perceived as tribal, primitive and backward feudal. It is a society with an agrarian structure, with inactive structures and with methods of social and cultural regulation based on traditions. It is believed that most of the history of mankind was at this stage.

The traditional society, the definition of which is considered in this article, is a set of groups of people who are at different stages of development and do not have a mature industrial complex. The determining factor in the development of such social units is agriculture.

Characteristics of traditional society

Traditional society is characterized by the following features:

1. Low rates of production, meeting the needs of people at a minimum level.
2. High energy intensity.
3. Non-acceptance of innovations.
4. Strict regulation and control of the behavior of people, social structures, institutions, customs.
5. As a rule, in a traditional society, any manifestation of individual freedom is prohibited.
6. Social education, consecrated by tradition, are considered unshakable - even the thought of their possible changes is perceived as criminal.

Economy of traditional society

Traditional society is considered agrarian, because it is based on agriculture. Its functioning depends on the cultivation of the crop with the help of a plow and working cattle. Thus, the same piece of land could be processed several times, as a result of which permanent settlements arose.

Traditional society is also characterized by the predominant use of manual labor, the extensive mode of production, the absence of market forms of trade (the predominance of exchange and redistribution). This led to the enrichment of individuals or classes.

The forms of ownership in such structures are, as a rule, collective. Any manifestations of individualism are not perceived and denied by society, and also considered dangerous, as they violate the established order and the traditional balance. There are no impulses to the development of science and culture, therefore extensive technologies are used in all spheres.

Political structure

The political sphere in such a society is characterized by authoritarian power, which is inherited. This is due to the fact that only in this way it is possible to maintain the tradition for a long time. The management system in such a society was quite primitive (the hereditary power was in the hands of the elders). The people had virtually no influence on politics.

Often there is an idea about the divine origin of the person in whose hands the power was. In this regard, politics is virtually completely subordinate to religion and is carried out only according to sacred prescriptions. The combination of secular and spiritual power made it possible to increasingly subordinate people to the state. This, in turn, strengthened the stability of a traditional society.

Social relations

In the sphere of social relations, the following features of traditional society can be distinguished:

1. Patriarchal device.
2. The main purpose of the functioning of such a society is the maintenance of human life and avoidance of its disappearance as a species.
3. Low level of social mobility.
4. Traditional society is characterized by division into estates. Each of them played a different social role.
5. Evaluation of the individual in terms of the place that people occupy in the hierarchical structure.
6. A person does not feel himself to be an individual, he considers only his belonging to a particular group or community.

Spiritual sphere

In the spiritual sphere, traditional society is characterized by profound religions and moral attitudes, instilled since childhood. Certain rituals and dogmas were an integral part of human life. Writing in a traditional society as such did not exist. That is why all traditions and traditions were transmitted orally.

Relations with nature and the surrounding world

The influence of traditional society on nature was primitive and insignificant. This was due to the low-waste production represented by cattle breeding and farming. Also in some societies there were certain religious rules that blamed nature pollution.

In relation to the surrounding world, it was closed. Traditional society with all its strength protected itself from invasions from outside and any external influence. As a result, a person perceived life as static and unchanging. Qualitative changes in such societies took place very slowly, and revolutionary changes were perceived extremely painfully.

Traditional and industrial society: differences

The industrial society arose in the 18th century, as a result of industrial revolutions, primarily in England and France.

It should be noted some of its distinctive features.
1. Creation of a large machine production.
2. Standardization of parts and assemblies of different mechanisms. This made it possible to mass production.
3. Another important distinctive feature is urbanization (urban growth and the resettlement of a large part of the population on their territory).
4. The division of labor and its specialization.

Traditional and industrial societies have significant differences. The first is characterized by the natural division of labor. Here traditional values and a patriarchal device prevail, there is no mass production.

We should also highlight a post-industrial society. Traditional, in contrast to it, aims to extract natural resources, rather than collecting information and storing it.

Examples of traditional society: China

Striking examples of a society of a traditional type can be found in the East in the Middle Ages and modern times. Among them, we should mention India, China, Japan, the Ottoman Empire.

China since the antiquity was distinguished by strong state power. By the nature of evolution, the society of this country developed cyclically. For China is characterized by a constant alternation of several eras (development, crisis, social explosion). It should be noted also the unity of spiritual and religious power in this country. By tradition, the emperor received the so-called "Mandate of Heaven" - a divine permission to rule.

Japan

The development of Japan in the Middle Ages and in modern times also allows us to say that there was a traditional society, the definition of which is considered in this article. The entire population of the Land of the Rising Sun was divided into 4 classes. The first is samurai, daimyo and shogun (personified the highest secular power). They occupied a privileged position and had the right to carry arms. The second estate - the peasants, who owned the land as hereditary holding. The third is the artisans and the fourth is the merchants. It should be noted that trade in Japan was considered unworthy. It is also worth highlighting the strict regulation of the social life of each of the classes.

Unlike other traditional eastern countries, there was no unity of supreme secular and spiritual power in Japan. The first personified the shogun. In his hands was a large part of the land and a huge power. Also in Japan was the emperor (tenno). He was the personification of spiritual power.

India

Striking examples of a traditional society can be found in India throughout the history of the country. The basis of the Mogul Empire, located on the Hindustan Peninsula, lay the military-flax and caste system. The supreme ruler, the padishah, was the principal owner of all the land in the state. Indian society was strictly divided into castes, whose life was strictly regulated by laws and sacred regulations.

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