Features of the economic and social organization of the neighboring community. Family and neighborhood community

11.02.2019

A neighboring community is a group of tribal communities (families) living in the same locality. Each of these families has its own head. And each family manages its own economy, uses the produced product at its own discretion. Sometimes the neighboring community is also called rural, territorial. The fact is that its members usually lived in the same village.

tribal community and neighborhood community These are two successive stages in the development of society. The transition from a tribal community to a neighboring one became an inevitable and natural stage in the life of ancient peoples. And there were reasons for this:

  • The nomadic way of life began to change to a sedentary one.
  • Agriculture became not slash-and-burn, but arable.
  • The tools for cultivating the land became more sophisticated, and this, in turn, dramatically increased labor productivity.
  • The emergence of social stratification and inequality among the population.

Thus, there was a gradual disintegration of tribal relations, which was replaced by family ones. Common property began to fade into the background, and private property came to the fore. However for a long time they continued to exist in parallel: forests and reservoirs were common, and cattle, dwellings, tools, plots of land were individual goods.

Now every person began to strive to do his own thing, earning them a living. This, of course, required the maximum unification of people so that the neighboring community continued to exist.

What is the difference tribal community from the neighbor?

  • First, by the fact that in the first prerequisite there were blood ties between people. This was not the case in the neighboring community.
  • Secondly, the neighboring community consisted of several families. Moreover, each of the families owned their own property.
  • Thirdly, the joint work that existed in the tribal community was forgotten. Now each family took care of its own plot.
  • Fourthly, in the neighboring community there appeared the so-called social stratification. More influential people stood out, classes were formed.

The person in the neighboring community became freer and more independent. But, on the other hand, he lost the powerful support that was in the tribal community.

When we talk about how the neighboring community differs from the tribal one, it is necessary to note one very important fact. The neighboring community had a great advantage over the tribal one: it became a type of not just a social, but a socio-economic organization. She gave a powerful impetus to the development private property and economic relations.

Neighborhood community among the Eastern Slavs

At Eastern Slavs the final transition to the neighboring community occurred in the seventh century (in some sources it is called "verv"). And this kind social organization lasted long enough. The neighboring community did not allow the peasants to go bankrupt, mutual responsibility reigned in it: the richer rescued the poor. Also in such a community, the wealthy peasants always had to be guided by their neighbors. That is, social inequality was still somehow restrained, although it naturally progressed. characteristic feature for the neighboring community of Slavs there was a circular responsibility for committed misconduct, crimes. This also applied to military service.

Finally

Neighborhood community and tribal community are varieties social structure that existed at one time in every nation. Over time, there was a gradual transition to a class system, to private property, to social stratification. These events were inevitable. Therefore, communities have gone down in history and today are found only in some remote regions.

During the period under review, there is a gradual transition from tribal communities to neighboring ones. The reason for this transition was the strengthening of the economic functions of the family within the clan. The development of production, the emergence of new technical advances led to the fact that the family could independently provide for their existence. Family ties sometimes begin to burden the family, since the family required the sharing of property, disinterested mutual assistance, in extreme situations- Equal distribution. This ran counter to the beginning accumulation of private wealth. Many families sought to isolate themselves from their relatives. However, the complete isolation of the family was impossible: there was a need for collective labor for the construction and maintenance of irrigation systems, for cutting down forests for arable land, for transhumance grazing, etc., so families cooperate with their neighbors. Family ties are gradually being replaced by neighboring, territorial ones, hence the name - primitive neighborly community (synonym territorial). In the primitive neighborhood community, tribal and neighborly ties were intertwined for a long time. For example, kindred could maintain common cults and help each other, even if they were separated geographically. Often, neighbors began to be treated as relatives (rites of twinning, indemnification, adoption).

It is important to note that collective ownership of land continued to exist in the primitive neighboring community. Private ownership of land is established late, as a rule, already in a class society and in the presence of a state. The whole community owned the land; the property of the family were considered tools, cattle, yard with all its buildings. Many transitional forms from collective ownership of land to private ownership have been recorded. For example, among the majority of Melanesians or some peoples of Africa, the family had the right to own communal land only so long as this land was cultivated by it. Among other peoples of Melanesia, allotment lands were already reserved for the family even in those cases when they were not cultivated. And among the ancient Germans, the land actually became the property of individual families, although it was considered to belong to the community.

During the period of the primitive neighborhood community, the formation of private property took place, which accumulated in the form of food products, tools, weapons, handicrafts, and livestock. According to ethnology, wealth accumulated among representatives of the tribal elite, as well as among the most industrious and successful community members. The accumulation of private property ran counter to primitive ideas about the need for equality and mutual assistance, so for a long time traditions were preserved that prevented the accumulation of surpluses. For example, forced redistribution of excessive, according to fellow tribesmen, wealth could be applied. So, among the reindeer herders of the North of Siberia in the XVII-XVIII centuries. the maximum size of the herd per family was determined, according to custom, at one hundred heads, while the surplus was simply taken away either by relatives or neighbors. It was also practiced to liquidate accumulated wealth in the event of the death of their owner - or their direct destruction or distribution of property to participants in the funeral ceremony. This concerned primarily the leaders and could act integral part funeral ritual. Many owners deliberately redistributed their accumulated wealth. For example, the Indian tribes North America existed potlatch- a specific holiday with the distribution of wealth. The organizer of the holiday presented the collected wealth for everyone to see, from blankets to boats and slaves, and then distributed them all to those invited. At the same time, both the size of the distributed wealth and the very fact of their distribution served as a subject of special pride. It is important to note that the organizer of the potlatch could count on reciprocal gifts during holidays of the same kind, which were then arranged by his former guests. Quite often, reciprocal gifts surpassed the initial ones in their total value. On the islands of Melanesia, the role of potlatch was played by prestigious feasts, at which food supplies, sometimes accumulated over months, were eaten by guests in one sitting. At the same time, it was a matter of honor for the organizer of the feast to invite as many companions as possible.

The most important characteristic feature of the primitive neighborhood community is the emergence of classes. With the advent of private property, property and social differentiation becomes more noticeable. As a result of social inequality, exploitation - gratuitous appropriation of the results of someone else's work. Exploitation could be intracommunal and intercommunal. The main types of exploitation were enslavement, military robbery, indemnities, tributary, slavery. The main source of slavery was military raids, frequent in the era of the primitive neighboring community. This period was characterized patriarchal slavery- "simple", "primitive" slavery, when slaves were considered the younger members of the family, lived with the owners under the same roof, ate at the same table. The treatment of slaves was quite mild, slaves were used mainly in household may have personal rights and property. Sometimes slavery was not for life and did not immediately begin to be inherited.

During this period, society is born classes - large groups of people who differ in their place in the system of production and in the distribution of the results of labor. Classes gradually took shape not only economically, but also socially and ideologically. Three classes are outlined: wealthy community members who claimed power and all sorts of privileges; ordinary and poor community members who did not have privileges; slaves who were personally not free and limited in their rights.

During the period of the primitive neighboring community, the process of folding the state and law begins, which is called politogenesis. The reasons for the formation of the state can be named as follows: the complication of social production, property and social stratification gave rise to contradictions and conflicts; a strengthening of power was needed to ensure control over the economy and social sphere. Character traits the folding of the state: the role of the leader in society is increasing; power is inherited; the leader has permanent assistants - a prototype of future managers, judges; there are taxes in favor of the authorities; there is a division of the population not according to tribal, but according to the territorial principle. The ways of folding the state are called the following: the aristocratic way, when the tribal nobility takes control into their own hands and claims the nobility of origin and the transfer of power by inheritance; a military path, when a military leader, who could be of noble and ignoble origin, is at the head of the community. The leader relied on a squad, which over time could turn into an army. Wars during the period of the primitive neighboring community become regular, as military raids made it possible to quickly enrich themselves. L.G. Morgan proposed the term "military democracy" - the primacy of the military leader with his retinue while maintaining such collective authorities as the people's assembly and the council of elders. The third is the plutocratic way of the emergence of the state (from the Greek "plutos" - wealth); it is associated with the nomination of big men - rich and influential people. Bigmen, as a rule, used enslaving forms of exploitation of their fellow tribesmen, and their power was not inherited. There is also the formation of law. Law is a set of norms that express the will of the ruling class and are protected by the state. Law is separated from morality - a set of norms protected by force public opinion and customs. The most ancient law is called customary law, since it was not written down and ancient customs served as its source.

The tribal community and the neighboring community are successive stages in the development of society. The tribal community appeared earlier and subsequently, as the development social relations, gradually transformed into a neighboring one. How does a tribal community differ from a neighboring one, and what do they have in common? Let's look at historical examples.

The emergence of a tribal community

The exact date when the tribal community replaced the previous one social formation- "human herd", does not exist. According to the most common hypothesis, this happened between 50 and 100 thousand years ago. This process was slow and different regions planets flowed unevenly. It is known that tribal communities also existed among the Cro-Magnons (people modern type), and among the Neanderthals, who later, unable to withstand species competition with their more highly organized rivals, died out. What united people, what is the difference between a tribal community and a neighboring one?

Experts identify three parameters that characterize this way of organizing society:

  • blood relations;
  • collective work;
  • collective consumption.

In conditions where labor productivity is low and coordinated actions are needed to obtain food a large number people, only large groups can survive. Quite early it became clear that marriages within the community had a detrimental effect on the health of descendants, so there was a ban on marrying one's close relatives, and wives began to be taken from other clans. These were already prerequisites for a more complex organization of society. The following fact speaks of the coherence of the actions of close clans: in the 8th millennium BC (this Upper Paleolithic) people create quite complex structures, such as a wall (presumably to protect against floods) and a tower eight meters high - its remains are in the city of Jericho (Israel).

Comparison

The neighborhood community is more complex shape organizations. It arises when the productivity of labor rises sharply and when the products necessary for survival are obtained, the labor of one family becomes sufficient. This is due to the improvement of tools and technologies for tillage. However, a complete separation of the family from the community does not occur, since a number of tasks (primarily repulsing an attack from outside and some especially laborious work) can only be performed together.

Members of the neighboring community are not blood relatives, and each family is entitled to its share of community property. Each family also cultivates its part of the arable land on its own, uniting with neighbors only when it is necessary, for example, to clear a piece of forest, pave a road or build a river crossing. The neighborhood community arose already in historical time, but, of course, the spread here is quite large. Among the Eastern Slavs, the transition from a tribal community to a neighboring community was completed only by the 7th century AD. And the city of Rome, for example, by this time already had about one and a half thousand years of history, and the oldest of Egyptian pyramids over three thousand years.

The liquidation of the neighboring community in our country took place only about a hundred years ago. The beginning was laid by the famous Stolypin agrarian reform, about which its initiator spoke so directly that one of its main tasks was the "destruction of the community." In the changed historical conditions the community has become a brake on development Agriculture so her days were numbered. Some believe that arising from Soviet power collective farms served logical development traditional Russian community, but the principles of labor organization there were completely different. Collective farms, rather, were state-owned agricultural enterprises fulfilling state orders.

South American Indians living in a tribal community

Having figured out what is the difference between the tribal and neighboring communities, it remains to add that both of them have not completely died out. Appearing as a way of organizing society in certain historical conditions, they are preserved where these conditions have not changed for thousands of years. These are some areas of Africa, South America and Australia, whose natives do not want to give up their usual way of life. And while maintaining the status quo, this situation will last indefinitely.

Epoch primitive order characterized by several forms public organization. The period began with a tribal community, in which blood relatives united, leading a common household in the future.

The tribal community not only rallied people close to each other, but also helped them survive with the help of joint activities.

Since the processes of production began to be divided among themselves, the community began to be divided into families, among which communal obligations were distributed. This led to the emergence of private property, which accelerated the decomposition of the tribal community, which was losing distant family ties. With the end of this form social order a neighborhood community appeared, the definition of which was based on other principles.

The concept of a neighborhood form of population organization

The meaning of the word "neighborhood community" implies a group of separate families living in a certain area and leading a common household on it. This form is called peasant, rural or territorial.

Among the main features of the neighboring community should be highlighted:

  • common territory;
  • general use of land;
  • separate families;
  • subordination to the communal governing bodies of the social group.

The territory of the rural community was strictly limited, but the territory with forests, pastures, lakes and rivers was quite enough for individual cattle breeding and farming. Each family of this form social system, she owned her own plot of land, arable land, tools and livestock, and also had the right to a certain share of communal property.

The organization, included in society as a subordinate element, performed only partially public functions:

  • accumulated production experience;
  • organized self-government;
  • regulated land ownership;
  • preserved traditions and cults.

Man has ceased to be a generic being, for whom the connection with the community had great importance. People are now free.

Comparison of tribal and neighboring communities

Neighborhood and tribal communities are two successive stages in the formation of society. The transformation of a form from a generic to a neighboring one is an inevitable and natural stage in the existence of ancient peoples.

One of the main reasons for the transition from one type of social organization to another was the change from a nomadic lifestyle to a settled one. Slash-and-burn agriculture became plowed. The tools needed for cultivating the land were improved, and this led to an increase in labor productivity. There was social stratification and inequality among people.

Gradually disintegrated tribal relations, which were replaced by family ones. Public property was in the background, and private property took the first place in importance. Tools, livestock, housing and a separate plot belonged to a particular family. Rivers, lakes and forests remained owned by the entire community . But each family could run its own business with which she earned her livelihood. Therefore, for the development of the peasant community, the maximum unification of people was required, since with the acquired freedom, a person lost the great support that was provided in the tribal organization of society.

From the comparison table of the tribal community with the rural one, one can single out their main differences from each other:

The neighboring form of society had more advantages than the generic form, since it served powerful impetus to the development of private property and the formation of economic relations.

East Slavic neighborhood community

Neighborly relations among the Eastern Slavs were formed in the 7th century. This form of organization was called "vervy". The name of the East Slavic rural neighboring community is mentioned in the collection of laws "Russian Truth", which was created by Yaroslav the Wise.

Verv was an ancient community organization that existed in Kievan Rus and on the territory of modern Croatia.

The neighboring organization was characterized by mutual responsibility, i.e., the entire rope had to be responsible for the misconduct committed by its participant. When a murder was committed by someone from a community organization, the viru (fine) had to be paid to the prince by the entire community group.

The convenience of such a social order was that it did not have social inequality because the rich had to help the poor if they had a shortage of food. But, as the future shows, social stratification was inevitable.

In the period of their development, vervi were no longer rural organizations. Each of them was a union of several settlements, which included several villages. early stage the development of a community organization was still characterized by blood relationship, but over time this ceased to play leading role in the life of society.

The rope was subject to general military service. Each family had a household land with all household buildings, tools, various implements, livestock, and farming plots. Like any neighboring organization, the vervi had forest areas, lands, lakes, rivers and fishing grounds in the public domain.

Features of the Old Russian neighborhood community

It is known from history that old Russian community called "peace". She was the lowest link in social organization. Ancient Rus'. Sometimes there was an unification of the worlds into tribes, which, during periods of military threat, gathered in alliances. Tribes often fought among themselves. The wars led to the emergence of a squad - professional equestrian warriors. The squads were led by princes, each of which owned a separate world. Each squad was a personal guard of its leader.

The lands have turned into estates. Peasants or community members who used such land were obliged to pay tribute to their princes. The patrimonial lands were inherited through the male line. Peasants living in rural neighborhood organizations were called "black peasants", and their territories were called "black". The people's assembly, in which only adult men participated, resolved all issues in peasant settlements. In such a social organization, the form of government was military democracy.

In Russia neighborhood relations existed until the 20th century, in which they were liquidated. With the increase in the importance of private property and the appearance of surplus production, society was divided into classes, and communal lands were transferred to private ownership. The same changes were taking place in Europe.. But neighbor forms population organizations exist today, for example, in the tribes of Oceania.

The first form of social organization of people in the era of the primitive system was this association of blood relatives who lived in the same territory and were all engaged in running a common household. It was characterized by solidarity and unity of all its representatives. People worked for the common good, and property was also collective. But in parallel with the process of division of labor and the separation of agriculture from cattle breeding, it appeared that the tribal community was divided into families. Collective property began to be redistributed between families of parts. This led to the emergence of what accelerated the decomposition of the tribal and the folding of the neighboring community, in which family ties ceased to be the main one.

A neighborhood community (also called rural, territorial or peasant) is a settlement of people who are not connected by blood ties, but they occupy a certain limited area that is cultivated collectively. Each family included in the community has the right to a part of the community property.

People no longer worked together. Each family had its own piece of land, arable land, tools, and cattle. However, lands (forests, pastures, rivers, lakes, etc.) were still communal property.

The neighboring community has become an organization included in society as a subordinate element that performs only part of the social functions: the accumulation of production experience, the regulation of land ownership, the organization of self-government, the preservation of traditions, worship, etc. People cease to be generic beings for whom belonging to a community had a comprehensive meaning; they become free.

Depending on the characteristics of the combination of private and collective principles, Asian, ancient and German neighborhood communities are distinguished.



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