Final answer:
Before civil society, life was organized around small, self-sustaining communities without formal governance. The hierarchy and complexity of social structures evolved with population growth, leading to the establishments of formal governments and laws. The Industrial Revolution marked a significant shift towards market economies and societal transformation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Life before civil society was fundamentally different from the world today. People lived in small communities where they sustained themselves through subsistence farming and traded within their localities. These communities were often self-regulated by family and societal customs rather than formal laws or governments. For example, the San people of South Africa resolved conflicts through traditional rituals rather than codified law. Similarly, prior to the Industrial Revolution and the onset of capitalism, most Americans lived on farms and produced their own food and goods within large familial units.
As societies grew, so did the complexity of their structures. The nature of government evolved as larger populations required more formal systems of governance for decision-making, and the concept of authority emerged. Religious and kingship hierarchies began to command obedience and offering protection in exchange for food, goods, and eventually taxes, fostering the growth of social classes and labor specialization.
Before the economic growth spurred by the Industrial Revolution, people primarily lived as farmers and artisans, and communities were interconnected. The transformation from small-scale production and trade to a market economy initiated significant changes in social dynamics, leading to the creation of utopian communities by those seeking to redefine American civilization for greater equality and harmony.