Surplus

Definition

Surplus refers to the excess production or resources that exceed the immediate needs of a population or society. It is a critical concept in understanding the modes of subsistence and the development of centralized societies, as the ability to generate and accumulate surplus is a key driver of social and economic change.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Surplus production allows societies to move beyond a mere subsistence level and engage in trade, the development of specialized roles, and the accumulation of wealth.
2. The ability to generate and store surplus is a key characteristic of agricultural and pastoral societies, as opposed to foraging societies that typically operate on a day-to-day basis.
3. Surplus resources can be used to support the development of centralized political structures, such as chiefdoms and states, by providing the means to sustain a ruling elite and a specialized workforce.
4. The management and redistribution of surplus resources is often a key function of centralized authorities in chiefdoms and states, allowing them to maintain power and control over the population.
5. The unequal distribution of surplus resources can lead to the emergence of social stratification and the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few, contributing to the development of class-based societies.

Review Questions

• Explain how the ability to generate and store surplus resources is related to the development of agricultural and pastoral societies.
  • The ability to generate and store surplus resources is a key characteristic of agricultural and pastoral societies, as it allows them to move beyond a mere subsistence level. Surplus production enables these societies to engage in trade, the development of specialized roles, and the accumulation of wealth. This surplus serves as a foundation for the emergence of more complex social structures and the transition from foraging to more advanced modes of subsistence.
• Describe the role of surplus resources in the development of centralized political structures, such as chiefdoms and states.
  • Surplus resources can provide the means to support the development of centralized political structures, such as chiefdoms and states. The management and redistribution of surplus resources is often a key function of these centralized authorities, allowing them to maintain power and control over the population. The availability of surplus resources can sustain a ruling elite and a specialized workforce, contributing to the emergence of social stratification and the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few, which are characteristic of class-based societies.
• Analyze how the unequal distribution of surplus resources can lead to the development of social stratification and class-based societies.
  • The unequal distribution of surplus resources can be a significant factor in the emergence of social stratification and class-based societies. When surplus resources are concentrated in the hands of a few, it can lead to the accumulation of wealth and power by a ruling elite. This disparity in the allocation of resources can contribute to the development of distinct social classes, with some individuals or groups having greater access to and control over the surplus, while others may be relegated to a subordinate position. The unequal distribution of surplus resources, and the resulting social stratification, can be a driving force behind the transition from more egalitarian societies to more hierarchical, centralized political structures, such as chiefdoms and states.

Related terms

Subsistence:

The minimum resources and goods required to maintain a certain standard of living or to survive.

Redistribution:

The process of distributing surplus resources within a society, often through a centralized authority or system.

Specialization: The focus on a particular task or skill, often enabled by the availability of surplus resources.