Cultural Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Cultural - Research Paper Example We will try to develop an understanding of the impact of modes of subsistence on cultural behavior. Since cultural behavior is a vast field which is depicted in all strata’s of life which is beyond the scope of this paper so we will restrict ourselves to just three aspects. Basseri Basseri are the nomadic Muslim tribe of Iran who inhabit the province of Fars and migrate along the mountain near the town of Shiraz. The Basseri is a group defined by political rather than geographical or ethnic criteria. Their population estimated in late 1950’s was 16,000. More recent estimates were not published. In this paper we will focus on the traditional Basseri culture which still exists. (Khanam, 2005) The language spoken by Basseri is a dialect of Farsi. Although majority can only speak Basseri dialect but a few can also speak Turkish or Arabic. Most of the population settled in southern Iran claim ancestral link with Basseri. The other nomadic groups are Yazd-e-Khast, the Bugard- Basseri, and Basseri who inhabit the east of Iran, Semnan. All of them are believed to be connected with the traditional Basseri of Fars. In the mid- nineteenth century Khamseh confederacy was formed and the Basseri were part of it. As with the passage of time Basseri grew in importance within the confederacy it resulted in the diminishing power and importance of the confederacy as a political and social unit. The habitat of the Basseri is hot and acrid climate of the Persian Gulf. They traditionally inhabit a large ecological range of 18,000 to 21,000 square kilometers. In the southern section there is a desert of about 600-900 kilometers whereas north has high mountains. Mountain precipitation supports reasonable vegetation and even foresting. Primary Mode of Subsistence Different modes of subsistence are developed in the same way in all human societies. According to Miller the similarities of wants and the faculties through which these wants are supplied has actually made this pr ogression quite uniform throughout the world. Based on this notion and supported by the fact Scot developed stadial theories of progress and social change. Modes of subsistence are the primary concern of any society. It shapes social institution and human activity. (Smith, 2006)According to Smith based on the reaction to subsistence societies can be divided into four categories. Smith’s four stages are age of Hunters, age of Sheppard, age of Agriculture, age of Commerce. These four stages are viewed as a general schema of social development of all societies. Thus each stage depicts its own set of moral and social behaviors which are in consistency with the physical conditions and security of subsistence. Basic human relations are dependent on modes of subsistence. The concept of subordination, kinship, social, economic and political environment, position of women, parent-child relationship everything changes in the light of modes of subsistence. Each stage has a different dom inant mode of subsistence but each stage also absorbs the stage before. He argues that specifically for this reason in this age of commerce hunting, husbandry and agriculture also exists. Hence the relationship between primary modes of subsistence and its impact on social, political, economic environment, kinship etc is established.