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Classification of the societies based on the mode of subsistence

According to Lenski and Lenski the diverse societies that exist at present can be classified into a limited number of basic types depending upon the technologies or the subsistence strategies that they use to exploit the natural environment. Different societies have used different subsistence strategies and those societies that have found more productive strategies have tended to grow larger and more complex. These complex societies often enjoy their success at the expense of societies using more primitive technologies. On the basis of level of technology or reliance on the basic type of subsistence strategy societies can be generally classified into the following types:

Sociologists have recognized that core technology or subsistence strategy has a major impact on values, beliefs and virtually all social structures including the family, religion, the political and economic orders and educational institutions