Definition: The several theories known broadly as Social Evolutionism were born out of ideas created during the 18th century Enlightenment, and reworked in the mid-19th century. In general, social evolutionists believed that the progress of civilization is a one way street that each group of people must follow, beginning with hunter-gatherer groups and ending with mid-nineteenth century England. Anthropologists and archaeologists used cross-cultural research, comparing many cultures across time and space, to slice civilization's progress into a series of steps. In Lewis Henry Morgan's plan, for example, the steps included savagery, barbarism, and civilization, with savagery and barbarism subdivided. All of these were seen as unilinear, each society moving from step to step over time, with the end result being an ideal civilized society (essentially, England in the mid-19th century).
The problem is clear from a 21st century standpoint: comparative cultural studies indicated that in the 'lowest' steps people were the best off. Hunter-gatherers took care of each other and were essentially equivalent; while in the civilized world there exists extreme inequality based on gender or race.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar.
