Pastoral Societies
Pastoral or Herding societies are characterized by domestication of animals. They first appeared
about 12,000 to 15,000 years ago. These societies are typically found in mountainous regions and
in areas with insufficient rainfall to support horticultural and agrarian societies. Most of these
societies have secondary means of subsistence - usually small scale horticulture or agriculture.
True pastoral societies are rare today.
Size and Density Pastoral communities are usually small (average size 72) with several dozen
communities forming a society with a total population of approximately 6,000.
Mobility - Most (90%) are nomadic. In desert areas they travel from water hole to water hole. In
mountain areas they move up and down the terrain as the weather changes.
Social Institutions
- The Family is the major institution. These are very male dominated as males control the food
supply.
- Religion is characterized by a God(s) seen as taking active role in human affairs. Christianity,
Islam and Judaism are examples of religions developing in Pastoral societies. Note that God in
these religion is often likened to a shepherd and humans to domesticated animals (e.g., sheep).
Note also the heavy male bias of early versions of these religions.
- Slavery, especially hereditary slavery, is more common in this type of society than in others.
- The Economy is primarily men's work.
- Warfare is more frequent than in Hunting and Gathering societies. Most fights are over
grazing areas.
- Education is informal and not a social institution.
Stratification and social status is based on the size of one's herd. These societies are very
patriarchal (male dominated) in customs. Women have very few rights. Newly married couples
are likely to live with the husbands family.
Go to Hunting & gathering, Horticulture, Agriculture, Industrial, Post industrial societies.
Go to primer topics.
For further reading I suggest: Human Societies: An Introduction to Macrosociology by Gerhard
Lenski, Jean Lenski and Patrick Nolan. McGraw-Hill, Inc.