• An introductory textbook, in which individual, social and societal deliberate behaviour patterns from hunter-gathering c. 12,000 BP to industry are explained

• Lucidly derives, develops and applies hunter-gatherer environmental variability theory from first principles

• Meets the requirements of those who need to understand humankind’s deliberate behaviour patterns whether from c. 12,000 BP or in the present day, specifically by explaining economic, social and cultural change

• Supplies essential knowledge and insights for decision makers, whether in, for example, government, business or education

Pages: 674

ISBN: 978-0-9562047-38

Price: £29.99,  Publication date: 31 October 2024

Available to order from good book retailers

"... a coherent, comprehensive, scientific account of societies from hunter-gatherer to industrial."

Back cover

The author’s principal purpose is to offer a coherent, comprehensive, scientific account of societies from hunter-gatherer to industrial.

The explanations of individual, social and societal deliberate behaviour are based upon the theory that humankind has the deliberate behaviour patterns of a hunter-gatherer who is adapted to ongoing, abrupt, dramatic environmental variability.

The events which, from earliest times, led to agricultural and, eventually, industrial societies are fully and clearly described and explained using this theory.

Two principal themes are the similarities and differences between societies and the alterations in societies and their culture over time.

This book is essential reading for those who wish to understand social change and present-day societies.

Contents

Introduction

Part 1 Hunter-gatherer societies

1                        Origins of humankind

2                        Attributes

3                        Social change

4                        Social interests component

5                        Ways of thinking component

6                        Ways of thinking societal lifestyles

7                        Ways of interacting component

8                        Ways of relating component

9                        Attitudes to the future component

10                      Behavioural scale

11                      Elements in scarce territories

12                      Elements in abundant territories

13                      The other world of hunter-gatherers

14                      Social change in hunter-gatherer society

15                      Hunter-gatherer behaviour patterns

Part 2 Agricultural societies

16                      Origins of agriculture

17                      Southern Europe

18                      Northwest Europe and America

Part 3 Industrial societies

19                      The first industrialisation

20                      America

21                      Russia

22                      Germany

23                      Japan

24                      China

25                      Britain

Part 4 Behaviour in industrial societies

26                      Government

27                      Social order

28                      Economics

29                      Businesses

30                      Income distribution

31                      Welfare

32                      Communication

33                      Personal and family life

34                      Drug use

35                      School education by governments

36                      Hobbies and entertainment

Part 5 Constraints on industrial societies

37                      International relations

38                      The environment

Glossary

Index

Copyright © 2024 Michael James Davies, All Rights Reserved

"... for everyone who wants to understand societies."

Introduction

This textbook is intended for everyone who wants to understand societies. The aim is to give a coherent and comprehensive explanation of societies from hunter-gathering to industry. The principal objectives are to describe and explain:

• Hunter-gatherer societies
• The origins of agricultural societies in Western Asia
• The spread of agricultural societies in Europe
• The Ancient Greek societies and the Roman Empire in Southern Europe
• The innovative agricultural societies of Northwest Europe
• Industrialisation
• Industrial societies
  

"Two principal themes are the similarities and differences between societies and the alterations in societies over time."

Two principal themes are the similarities and differences between societies and the alterations in societies over time.

The book is in parts, which are:

• Part 1 Hunter-gatherer societies
• Part 2 Agricultural societies
• Part 3 Industrial societies
• Part 4 Behaviour in industrial societies
• Part 5 Constraints on industrial societies

"The content of this book describes and explains the events which, from earliest times, eventually led to industrial societies."

Industrialisation, which began in Northwest Europe, is changing societies throughout the world. The content of this book describes and explains the events which, from earliest times, eventually led to industrial societies. For this reason, much of the historical content is about Europe. European societies were also dominant economically and militarily during the nineteenth century and the early part of the twentieth century. The United States of America, the majority of whose population is descended from European immigrants, was similarly dominant economically and militarily during the twentieth century and the first part of the twentyfirst century. Consequently, Europe and the United States of America are described, explained and frequently feature as examples. Furthermore, the choice of examples inevitably depends on the author’s knowledge and experience, which is mostly of Britain, Europe and the United States of America, but there are chapters on Japan and China. (For reasons of simplicity and no other, the United States of America is from now on called America, which is in no way intended to be disrespectful to anyone in the Americas.)

Sources, essentially for their facts, are given for hunter-gatherer societies at the end of Chapter 15, early agricultural societies at the end of Chapters 16 and 17, and industrialisation at the end of Chapter 19. Otherwise, a sizeable majority of the facts can be checked from at least several reliable sources on the internet. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) website is a valuable source of information. Other useful sources are the websites of the principal international organisations, for example the United Nations, and some government websites. There are instructive articles, maps, diagrams, pictures and illustrations in Wikipedia. The ideas in this book utilise the research, knowledge and profound insights of numerous social scientists and historians.

"The explanation of societies is by a combination of theory and examples which are taken from all periods of history."

Individuals are not named in the chapters, because the content is sufficiently complicated without referring to named individuals. The explanation of societies is by a combination of theory and examples which are taken from all periods of history. The chapters are intended to be read in order from the beginning. It is certainly easiest to start at the beginning and read each chapter in turn, because later chapters explore ideas which are explained earlier. At the end of most chapters, there are Self-Test sections, which may help in understanding and remembering the ideas.

Copyright © 2024 Michael James Davies, All Rights Reserved

Back to top