Four Worlds of History

Social Science Factors: basic terms & key conceptsreference sheet 1

The social sciences examine the interplay and impact of these factors.

Geography

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Four Worlds

Politics

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Economics

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Social

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Culture

  1. climate
  1. physical features
  2. topography
  3. vegetation
  1. natural resources
  2. water
  3. minerals
  4. rich soil
- arable land
  • trees (lumber)
  1. trade routes
  • rivers, straits
  • mountain passes
  1. territory, borders,political boundaries
/ Governing Structure
  1. type of government
  2. monarchy, oligarchy
  3. democracy, authoritarian
  4. centralized, decentralized
  1. military: armies, weapons
  2. defense, protection vs. conquest, expansion
  3. treaties, diplomacy
  1. legal system
  2. laws, standards, rights
  3. judges, police, patrol
  1. taxes, tribute
------Central Concepts:------
  1. security
  2. order, stability, control
  3. state-building (rise & fall)
  1. power: limits, transfer, balance
  2. legitimate authority
  3. role of govt / functions
  1. rule of law vs. force / fear
  2. equality before the law
  3. justice, fairness
  4. enforcement, recourse
  1. leadership, stewardship
  2. public service, duty
  1. rights & responsibilities
  1. managing the commons
  2. public goods, infrastructure
  3. redistribution
/ Economic Structure
  1. products / trade
  2. goods & services
  1. production
means of production
  • resources: natural, human, financial
  • tools, equipment, labor
  1. types of labor, work, jobs
  • merchants, artisans, craftsmen, guilds
  • division of labor, specialization
  1. infrastructure
  • irrigation, aqueducts
  • roads, bridges, ports
  1. means of exchange
  • barter system
  • system of money
  1. standard measures
  • length, weight, volume, distance
------Central Concepts:------
  1. entrepreneurship
  2. incentives
  3. scarcity vs prosperity
  4. innovation & efficiency
/ Social Structure
  1. class
  2. upper- ruling class
- elite class
  • middle- common class
- working class
  • lower- peasants
- slaves
  1. status / position
  2. mobility
  3. privilege
  4. hierarchical v. communal
  5. integrated v. segregated
  6. roles (role of women)
  7. demographics
  8. population groups, trends
  9. migration (internal, external)
  10. rural v. urban
  11. nomadic v. sedentary
------Civil Society:*------
  1. civic duty / common good
  2. education (literacy level)
  3. equity & access
  4. advocates, watchdogs,
movements, protests
  • accountability
  • transparency
  1. organizations, associations
  2. distribution of information;
news; role of the media / Religion & Belief Systems
  1. origins
  2. teachings —shared values,
moral authority
  1. texts
  2. practices, rites & rituals
  3. influence; role in society
Other Aspects of Culture
  1. daily life
  2. customs
  3. language
  4. alphabet / writing system
  5. literature
  6. the arts —aesthetics
  7. visual art, crafts
  8. performing arts: music, dance, theater/drama
  1. architecture
------Central Concepts:------
  1. identity (pride, bonds, loyalty)
  2. tolerance (harmony)
  3. respect for authority
  4. meaning, comfort, hope
(esp. to face hardship, suffering)
  1. cultural blending, diffusion
  2. diversity v homogeneity
  3. assimilation v acculturation
  4. harmony v conformity

Technology
  1. discoveries
  2. inventions
impact of technology:*
  • infrastructure: e.g.
 transportation
- navigation
 communication
  • production
  • weapons
  • medicine, health
  • beliefs, values
  • legal process

* Impact of technology across society is the central concept. Civil society is the central concept of the social world. 4W factors developed by Teresa Hudock, 2008—Revised, Jan 2014

Social ScienceFactors: 4W chart of key conceptsreference sheet 2

These concepts are “factors” of the human condition – that when combined in different ways – produce different types of societies throughout history and around the world today. Some factors are basic to survival while others help establish more order and greater stability. Some of these factors are needed for a thriving, more humane existence. Societies have strengths or weaknesses across these factors. Absence or loss of certain factors can lead to the decline of a society.

Political





/ Economic



Social





/ Cultural





Four Worlds analytical framework by Steven Lamy, Professor of International Relations, USC │Four Worlds of History adapted by Sandy Line, Associate & Teresa Hudock, Director, CALIS

Social Science Factors: tools for explorationreference sheet 3

Human History can be studied as a quest….

Political



/ Economic


Social
/ Cultural

Four Worlds analytical framework by Steven Lamy, Professor of International Relations, USC │Four Worlds of History adapted by Sandy Line, Associate & Teresa Hudock, Director, CALIS

Social Science Factors: same dynamics, different outcomesreference sheet 4

How do societies organize themselves?

Political



/ Economic

Social


/ Cultural



Four Worlds analytical framework by Steven Lamy, Professor of International Relations, USC │Four Worlds of History adapted by Sandy Line, Associate & Teresa Hudock, Director, CALIS

Social Science Factors4W analysis worksheet

Political
/ Economic

Social
/ Cultural

Four Worlds analytical framework by Steven Lamy, Professor of International Relations, USC │Four Worlds of History adapted by Sandy Line, Associate & Teresa Hudock, Director, CALIS

usc.edu/calis