One important theme in AP World History is social interaction and organization. Questions on the exam will ask you to describe how humans relate to each other. They will also ask you to explain how these systems changed over time.
I'm a licensed teacher and professional tutor with over ten years of experience in education. I've helped dozens of students improve their grades in their AP World History class. This article will cover what counts as social organization AND show you relevant examples from AP World History. Read on for tips you can use to improve your grades today!
Note: This post is part of a series on historical themes covered in AP World History. A common way to remember these themes is using the acronym SPICE-T. You can learn more about the basics of historical themes and SPICE-T at this link.
Social Interaction and Organization
Definition
People connect with other people and institutions. Institutions are organizations or traditions that serve a purpose in society. Social structures explain what connections are typical for group of people. They also describe rules and expectations for these relationships.
Gender Roles
Gender roles describe expectations for people of different genders. Traditions, economic circumstances, and religious beliefs can influence gender roles. These expectations may limit or expand a person's rights and freedoms. For example, many cultures expected wealthy women would stay home. One example of this is the secluded harems of the Safavid, Mughal, and Ottoman Empires. A similar patterned occurred in Europe and United States. After the Industrial Revolution, it was a sign of wealth and status if the wife did not have to work outside the home.
Family Relationships
Family relationships describe how members of the family relate to each other. A person's position in the family often influences their rights and status. Traditional Confucianism provides one example of this. It establishes expectations for all members of a family. The father was the leader of the household. His wife and children were to follow his decisions and show respect. Even among siblings, younger brothers deferred to their older brothers.
Hierarchies
Hierarchies divide people into groups. Some of these groups have more status than other groups. Higher status generally leads to better treatment. Many factors can influence a person's position. These factors include wealth, race, ethnicity, and religion. In the Ottoman Empire, the women of the sultan's household had different social status and power. The sultan's mom had the most power and authority in his household. She could leave the palace, meet with government officials, and travel with the sultan. This translated into real political power. Several of these women ruled the Ottoman Empire as regents. Others influenced the sultan's decisions political decisions. The mother of the sultan had more status than most women and men in the Ottoman Empire. She still had less status than the sultan.
Persecution and Discrimination
All people belong to many groups. Age, race, gender, ethnicity, or religious beliefs can form the basis of some of these groups. Prejudice is a judgment of someone because of the groups they belong to. Negative judgments can cause a person's behavior to change. Discrimination occurs when a person's judgments lead them to harm members of a group. The Chinese Exclusion Act is an example of discrimination. Industrialization made it easier for people to move in search of work. Many Chinese people traveled to the United States. The United States passed the Chinese Exclusion Act in response. This law made it illegal for Chinese immigrants to enter the United States. Similar laws did not exist for most other groups of people.
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