Ch. 7 Flashcards
states
society that has a permanent, highly centralized political organization with an elite social class of rulers at the top
an office
permanent position, which must be refilled when it is vacated by death or retirement
social statuses in chiefdoms
based on seniority of descent; status of chief ascribed based on descent
stratum
one of two or more groups that contrast in social status and access to strategic resources
stratification
creation of separate social strata/the presence
three related dimensions of social stratification
- wealth - person’s material assets
- power- ability to exercise on’e will over others
- prestige- esteem,, respect, or approval for acts or deeds
superordinate
the higher or elite stratum had privileged access to resources
subordinate
the lower or under-privileged stratum had limited access to resources
vertical mobility
an upward or downward change in a person’s social status
open-class system
individual achievement and personal merit determine social rank
caste-system
closed, heredity systems of stratification that often are dictated by religion
__________, which are ______ into the structure of _______-________ societies.
inequalities; built; state-organized
slavery
people are conquered or stolen from homelands and become someone’s property
slave rights
no rights; elites control part of the means of production
population control
states demarcate certain boundaries that separate them from other societies; control through administrative subdivision
