Before humans developed organized communities, our species consisted of families and small bands of hunters and gatherers. These individuals wandered about the landscape and spent a significant portion of their time acquiring just enough food to survive. In addition, humans often found themselves the target of hungry animals and other humans who discovered it was easier to take what their neighbors had acquired rather than spend the time and effort necessary to fend for themselves. On the other hand, these individuals possessed the absolute freedom to do as he wished.

At some point, forward thinking and resources individuals probably discovered that it is easier and more productive for individuals to seek out friendly neighbors and create agreements to share in the hunting and gathering process. Acquired food could then be divided among the parties to these agreements. Also, agreements could provide that if any of the participants were to be attacked by unfriendly human neighbors, all participants would band together to repel the attack. Today, we would refer to such an agreement as a social contract. In creating the contract, each party would yield specific elements of his absolute freedom in return for certain benefits.

As time passed, these groups of individuals found that the mutual benefits and obligations created by social contracts were more easily satisfied if all participants made their homes close to one another. In this way, if was easier to gather the members of the group in cases of need or emergency. As humans discovered that growing plants for food was easier than gathering it over large territories, denser populations were preferred for purposes of nurturing and harvesting crops. It was probably also noticed that some individuals were better suited for some tasks than others. Perhaps one who was an efficient hunter was able to acquire more food than others. Another individual might have developed a very productive method of making spears or other weapons used for hunting and defense. It probably didn’t take long for them to realize that both could benefit from a trade of meat for weapons or grain crops. This would provide greater incentive for individuals to live closer to one another. If one who had goods to trade were to display them near a major trail, greater numbers of people would see them. In time, these early marketplaces would become communities, towns and cities.

Also, this practice would make it easier to share other aspects of life. Groups then developed certain ways of life that would evolve into what we call customs and traditions. Individuals within each group shared experiences and ideas and began to communicate this information from one generation to the next, creating common histories. Individuals began to feel that they belonged together because of the shared elements of their lives. They developed group names and symbols to identify themselves collectively. Communities and tribes evolved. However, it would have been relatively simple for individuals who chose not to share in the mutual benefits of the community to exclude themselves from the group and fend for themselves.

About this time, members of groups might have noticed that some among the members of the group were able to take charge in some manner, whether it be in battle or in the fields. It would seem to be a natural tendency for individuals to begin to look to these to lead the community. As time passed, however, leaders grew much more powerful and began to acquire positions in which they controlled the citizenry instead of serving the community. In some societies, the development of religious believe led to a concept that held that the kings other leaders held their positions because it was the “will of God”. Historians often refer to this tradition as the “Divine Right of Kings” and few in these communities dared question this authority for fear that they would be punished by God.

This and other authoritarian governments dominated human societies for hundreds of years. Although there were some nations on Earth that possessed forms of government that provided for popular selection of leaders, the largest and most powerful societies were led by powerful kings.

This practice and tradition began to change during the so-called Renaissance Period in the Middle Ages. Philosophers such as John Locke began to propose and promote ideas that led to a return of various forms of government that allowed the people to select those who were to lead them. The Constitutional governments established as a result of the American and French revolutions are examples of these. The foundations of government in these nations were created with the understanding that authority served the wishes of the people.

It is important to note that in these societies, constitutions and laws do not grant rights, they simply codify and protect rights always possessed by individual citizens. Likewise, these documents also enumerate powers and duties granted to the governing authority. As stated clearly in the tenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, all powers not granted to government are still in the possession of the people. This concept will be described and discussed in greater detail in another article.

INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETY