Which characteristic is associated with the savagery stage according to Morgan?

Study for the Dantes General Anthropology Exam. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question comes with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your assessment!

The characteristic associated with the savagery stage according to Lewis Henry Morgan is the absence of class structures or ownership. In Morgan's framework of social evolution, savagery is the earliest stage of human development, characterized by a more communal way of life where resources were shared and there was no formal system of class or private ownership. Societies in this stage were primarily focused on subsistence, relying on hunting, gathering, and fishing, and communal bonds were crucial for survival.

As societies progressed beyond this stage into what Morgan termed barbarism and civilization, we begin to see the emergence of more complex social structures, including hierarchies, class divisions, and systems of ownership. This idea of communal living and the absence of rigid social stratification underscores the fundamental characteristics of the savagery stage in Morgan's model of cultural evolution.

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