Theory of Culture Change: The Methodology of Multilinear Evolution

260 Pages·1973·4.268 MB·English

by  Julian Haynes Steward

the methodology
of multilinear...
evolution
Salial H. Steward

theory of culture change

Theory of
CULTURE CHANGE
the methodology
of multilinear
evolution
JULIAN H. STEWARD
University of Illinois Press
Urbana Chuago London
Second printing of the paperback edition, 1973
Originally published in a clothbound edition, 1955
© 1955 by The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
Manufactured in the United States of America
Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 55-7372
ISBN 0-252-00295-4
preface
This volume sets forth certain concepts and methods needed to
develop a general methodology for determining regularities in the
functional interrelationships of cultural patterns and in the processes
of culture change which have occurred independently among societies
in different parts of the world. The Introduction presents a broad
statement of the scientific objective and of certain heuristic concepts
and procedurés necessary to realize this objective. The first five chap-
ters are primarily theoretical. Each elaborates a concept and method.
The following seven chapters are slightly more substantive than theo-
retical in that they illustrate applications of the basic theory to se-
lected cultures. Previously published essays form the basis of most of
the chapters but in order to present a coherent and unified point of
view, it has been necessary to revise these in some measure and to fill
gaps with newly written chapters (2, 5, and 6).
Since the volume is primarily theoretical rather than substantive, it
covers only a limited number of the many kinds of culture found
throughout the world. The samples, however, present a sufficient
variety of cultural types and levels to illustrate the kinds of phenomena,
the problems and the methodological considerations that will be en-
countered in any study of culture change.

I. introduction 1
II. concepts and methods 9
MULTILINEAR EVOLUTION: EVOLUTION AND PROCESS 11
2. THE CONCEPT AND METHOD OF CULTURAL ECOLOGY 30
3. LEVELS OF SOCIOCULTURAL INTEGRATION :
AN OPERATIONAL CONCEPT 43
4, NATIONAL SOCIOCULTURAL SYSTEMS 64
5. CULTURE AREA AND CULTURAL TYPE IN ABORIGINAL AMERICA:
METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS 78
ITl. substantive applications 99
6. THE GREAT BASIN SHOSHONEAN INDIANS: AN EXAMPLE OF A FAMILY
LEVEL OF SOCIOCULTURAL INTEGRATION 101
. THE PATRILINEAL BAND 122
. THE COMPOSITE HUNTING BAND 143
. LINEAGE TO CLAN: ECOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF
SOUTHWESTERN SOCIETY 151
10. VARIATION IN ECOLOGICAL ADAPTATION: THE CARRIER INDIANS 173
. DEVELOPMENT OF COMPLEX SOCIETIES: CULTURAL CAUSALITY
AND LAW: A TRIAL FORMULATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF
EARLY CIVILIZATIONS 178
. ANALYSIS OF COMPLEX CONTEMPORARY SOCIETIES: CULTURE PATTERNS
OF PUERTO RICO 210
bibliography 223
index 237