Sociology / Unit 4 Soc 0446 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Agricultural Societies
Captions available
The idea
Agricultural societies use ploughs, irrigation, and animal labor to farm permanently, producing surpluses large enough to support cities and full-time specialists.
In practice
When farmers feed more than themselves, some people become priests, soldiers, and scribes.
Where people slip
Specialization began earlier, with pastoral surplus; agricultural surplus deepens it into full-time occupations and steep hierarchy.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Unlocks
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for Sociology