Human Societies: An Introduction to Macrosociology

A classic, Human Societies differs from most texts written for the introductory sociology course, being neither a survey of contemporary Americana society nor an eclectic, encyclopedia-like collection of topics, perspectives, and conflicting theories. Taking a macrosociological, global approach, it offers an introduction to sociology that is truly comparative, cross-cultural, and historical. It compares societies over time and across environments, emphasizing the dynamics of social change. Diversity and multiculturalism are its hallmarks. Its clearly developed and strongly anchored ecological-evolutionary perspective provides a powerful theoretical framework for understanding the dizzying array of social arrangements found in human societies over the past 100,000 years, helping students see their own society (and other contemporary societies) in a broader and more meaningful way. It stresses the relationship between social arrangements and environmental and technological context, and encourages students to look for the reasons why social arrangements are the way they are, and why they change over time. The seventh edition features a new chapter on the successes and failures of Marxist societies as social experiments, as well as an increased focus on comparisons between industrial and nonindustrial societies.