Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
primitive culture
Table of Contents
References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images
Tarasco Indian handicrafts
Read Next
Arctic wolf (Canis lupus arctos)
Behind the Scenes: 9 Historical Inspirations for Game of Thrones
Discover
Panama Canal infographic
Timeline and Map of the Panama Canal
Srinivasa Ramanujan, Indian mathematician and autodidact.
6 Interesting Facts about Srinivasa Ramanujan
Four year old boy with grandfather and father lighting Hanukkah menorah. Photo taken on: December 21st, 2009
Which Is Correct: Hanukkah or Chanukah?
Scottish fold cat. A genetic mutation caused (in the original cat-1961) the ears to bend forward and down.
Shorthair Cat Breeds
King Cobra snake in Malaysia. (reptile)
9 of the World’s Deadliest Snakes
A mug shot taken by the regional Colombia control agency in Medellin
Pablo Escobar: 8 Interesting Facts About the King of Cocaine
The Jeff Koons tulips sculputure outside the Guggenheim Museums in Bilbao, Spain, Basque Country.
What’s the Difference Between Modern and Contemporary Art?
Tarasco Indian handicrafts
Tarasco Indian handicrafts Handicrafts of the Tarasco Indians on display in Tzintzuntzan, Mexico.

primitive culture

Share
Share to social media
URL
https://mainten.top/topic/primitive-culture
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Also known as: nonurban culture, nonurban society
Written by
Elman R. Service
Professor of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, 1968–85. Investigator of the economic and social organization of primitive cultures. Author of Primitive Social Organization.
Elman R. Service
Fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Article History

primitive culture, in the lexicon of early anthropologists, any of numerous societies characterized by features that may include lack of a written language, relative isolation, small population, relatively simple social institutions and technology, and a generally slow rate of sociocultural change. In some of these cultures history and beliefs are passed on through an oral tradition and may be the province of a person or group especially trained for the purpose. Culture is discussed in a number of other articles. For an overview of the concept of human culture, see culture; urban culture. For a discussion of prehistoric societies, see ...(100 of 9409 words)

Access the full article
Help support true facts by becoming a member.