Human Societies

In this beautiful reconnaissance flight over thousands of years of human history, Bernhard Giesen offers a cultural sociological perspective on the evolution of human societies that sets him apart from other theorists. He resists the temptation to provide a unilinear evolutionary account of the historical development of human societies and recognizes, instead, how certain forms of classification and representation from earlier societies may still surface and coexist in later societal forms. 

—Carlo Tognato, Faculty Fellow, Center for Cultural Sociology, Yale University.

What if humanity’s past isn’t really past? Bernhard Giesen, during his lifetime one of the most prominent voices of German cultural sociology, believed that social and cultural forms that originated in earlier societies have not simply vanished but continue to shape our lives in often surprising ways. Consequently, he conducted his yearly introduction to cultural sociology as a tour de force through the history of humanity. This book contains a previously unpublished script, prepared by Giesen for a series of lectures at Yale University, offering the first comprehensive account of his unique perspective on human history. Giesen examines six types of societies, each characterized by its unique modes of production, classification, circulation, and representation, showcasing their enduring legacy with contemporary examples. Whether you are a student looking for an engaging introduction, a teacher looking for inspiration, or an expert eager to engage with new ideas, Human Societies offers an accessible yet intellectually profound work.


Bernhard Giesen was a full professor at the University of Konstanz, Germany, where he held the chair for macrosociology in the Department of History and Sociology. 

Werner Binder is an assistant professor at the Department of Sociology at Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia.

Kim-Claude Meyer works at the Research and Innovation Department for Non-Formal Education of the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth in Luxembourg.

Francis Le Maitre is a lecturer in Sociology at the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University, Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany.