Final answer:
Max Weber's major contributions to sociological thought include the idea that Protestant work ethics influenced the rise of capitalism and that a deep understanding of cultures (verstehen) is essential for sociological study.
Step-by-step explanation:
Trace the origins of society from tradition to Max Weber, a prominent sociologist, requires examination of Weber's influential theories and concepts. Max Weber's contributions to sociology began at Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich in 1919, where he established a sociology department. His seminal work, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, suggests that Protestant work ethics, especially Calvinist beliefs, played a role in the development of capitalism. Weber's exploration of the social forces prompted a new understanding of how culture affects human behaviors, introducing verstehen, a concept for deeply understanding a social world from an insider's perspective. In contrast to Emile Durkheim, who saw religion as social stability, Weber acknowledged its role as a catalyst for economic activities and societal change.