It only takes a simple observation of modern society to see that most societies are stratified. However, the dominant classes that govern society and the lower classes that struggle persist. Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel and EK Hunt's Property and Prophets: The Evolution of Economic Institutions and Ideologies include explanations for why the masses of society would give up their autonomy and resources for the benefit of elites. This article will discuss Diamond and Hunt's understanding of the ideologies that serve to preserve the social stratification of societies. After the analysis of Diamond and Hunt's statements, it will be demonstrated that the two theories of social development follow the same line of reasoning. Throughout society's transition from its agrarian roots to the feudalism and robust capitalism of today, religion has played an important role at every stage. This article will show that the economic development of society is largely dictated by the religious ideology of the time. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay To begin with, Diamond argues in his book Guns, Germs, and Steel that societies naturally progress through arbitrary categorizations of gang, tribe, chief. was. Diamond suggests that the development from gang to state be simplified into a social evolution from egalitarianism to kleptocracy as a way to combat the limitation of categorizing societies by size and not characteristics. To maintain these newly developed stratified societies, institutions of power have used four methods to maintain social cohesion. In summary, the following methods allowed elites to maintain their higher status and a “more comfortable lifestyle” at the expense of common people (Diamond 276). The first solution to maintain the new stratified society is to “disarm the population and arm the population”. elite” (Diamante 277). Societies in the first two stages of social development – ​​bands and tribes – possessed few advanced weapons due to their size and technological limitations. Because gangs and tribes are made up of relatively small numbers of people, there is a reduced chance of encountering rival gangs or tribes, reducing the need for weapons. Additionally, the weapons used for hunting posed little threat as they were not as advanced as modern technology. As society progressed towards a kleptocracy, weapons became more advanced. The progress of armaments was accompanied by the specialization of society, a factor that contributed to maintaining social cohesion. Hunters became warriors who became soldiers, thus creating the separation between an unarmed population and an armed elite, loyal to the leader, king or government. Therefore, a small armed elite served to maintain social cohesion and stratification because it prevented a popular uprising against the upper classes. Second, elites “redistributed tributes in ways popular with the masses” in order to maintain social cohesion and prevent unrest ( Diamante 277). The elites must appease the masses and their concerns. Although the resources extracted from the population largely benefit the upper classes, the population must be led to believe that they also receive compensation for the fruits of their labor, whether in the form of labor, a share of goods, or taxes. . For example, this “redistribution of tribute” can come in the form of security from external threats, creation of government and laws, stability, and order (Diamond 277). This method to maintain social cohesionis still in effect today: tax money is redistributed among popular causes such as social welfare programs, defense and security, education, etc. The masses, when they believe that the elites are supporting the development of society as a whole, do not dislike the stratification of society and believe that all social classes perform tasks essential to the function of society. Third, government institutions and law enforcement methods not only “maintained law and order and curbed violence” but also promoted a general sense of happiness (Diamond 277). Diamond argues that although tribal peoples were more egalitarian than modern societies, the same cannot be said of their peacefulness. Indeed, extensive research conducted among tribal groups reveals that “murder is the leading cause of death” due to the lack of laws and means of enforcement (Diamond 277). The lack of centralized government and code of conduct made murder and honor killings an appropriate way to resolve disputes within tribes and between rival groups (Diamond 277). Elites have used armed and loyal members of society to establish institutions of protection, security and law enforcement. This in turn reduced the temptation to murder as a solution and promoted happiness and stability among ordinary people. Finally, Diamond cites religion, which justifies kleptocracy, as a way to preserve social stratification (Diamond 277). Diamond makes a clear distinction here between beliefs and religion. He states that groups and tribes had established supernatural beliefs (Diamond 278). These supernatural beliefs gave rise to explanations about the origin of humankind and the organization of the universe. However, these beliefs lacked three main characteristics that made them useful to ruling elites. First, they did not justify the function of a central authority; two, they did not justify the distribution of wealth to ruling elites; and three, they did not promote peace between unrelated peoples (Diamond 278). Once the beliefs were transformed to include these three points, they became a centralized religion and a tool for elites to maintain social stratification. In summary, religion preserved social cohesion by justifying the ruler's power, usually through divinity, making the individual's sacrifices a good deed for society and the divine, and curbing violence. Now that Diamond's ideology has been examined, the concept of feudalism be explained to further illustrate how Hunt's ideology of social stratification compares to Diamond's. During feudalism, workers, also known as serfs and peasants, belonged to the lower class. The collective upper class of religious lords and members of the secular nobility managed the manors. The lord of the manor provided security and protection to the servants (Making of Economic Society). Hunt argues that late feudal ideology was based largely on Christian paternalist ethics. The Christian paternalist ethic was a religious ideology that justified the feudal system. This ideology states that the lords of the manor were paternalistic figures who were to be respected and bowed to by the "children of society" or the weak and poor (Hunt 8). In comparison, Diamond and Hunt's understanding of the ideologies that contributed to the stratification of society are more similar than different. Hunt's vision of the division of labor and feudalism guarantees an unarmed populace, a system of compensation for goods, and a code of "mutual obligations" and rules (Hunt 6). Finally, Christian paternalist ethics covers Diamond's observation about the need for a justifying religion.