The Stages of Progress in Human Society as Studied by Lewis Morgan Essay Example
The concept of progress is defined as moving forward, which aligns with the Sanskrit term 'pra-gat'. Thus, progress fundamentally refers to the forward journey or development towards a desirable goal.
There are various forms of progress, each aligned with different desired goals. Throughout history, progress has been associated with ethics and represents an advancement towards the ultimate moral values that humanity has been striving for over time. Morgan was the pioneer in organizing human society in a systematic manner, introducing a definite order. He categorized human society's progress into three main epochs: savagery, barbarism, and civilization. Additionally, he further subdivided savagery and barbarism into lower, middle, and upper orders, based on the development in the means of subsistence production.
The question of human dominance on Earth centers around their ability to control food production.
...Humans have achieved complete control in this area, and the progress of civilization is closely tied to the expansion of their food sources. Examining the evolution of humans from savagery to barbarism and eventually to civilization proves interesting. Let's break down each stage:
a) In the lower stage, humans lived in tropical or sub-tropical forests and relied on fruits, nuts, and roots for sustenance.
b) The middle stage saw humans using fire and fishing as food sources, which allowed them to become more geographically independent. They primarily used crude stones as weapons.
c) In the upper stage, humans developed the bow and arrow, incorporated wild animals into their diet, and hunting became a primary occupation. Additionally, they started using wooden vessels and utensils.
Transitioning into the stages of barbarism:
a) In the lower stage of barbarism, pottery was introduced.
b) In the middle stage of
barbarism, animal domestication began in the East while cultivation of edible plants, irrigation practices, and construction with sun-dried bricks and stones occurred in the West.
The upper stages of barbarism mark a transition starting with smelting iron ore towards civilization through inventions such as alphabetic writings for literary records.During this period, there are advancements in agriculture, achieved through the use of an iron ploughshare pulled by cattle and extensive land cultivation. This leads to increased resources that are essential for survival. Furthermore, there is rapid population growth during this phase. Additionally, people gain expertise in refining natural resources and making advancements in industry and art.
Human society has reached a level of sophistication in various aspects of life during this phase of progression.
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