Final answer:
Contemporary societies are characterized as more diverse due to increased interconnectivity and technology, contrasting with past societies that tended to be more homogeneous.
Step-by-step explanation:
Contemporary societies are more likely to be characterized as diverse, reflecting a wide range of cultures, languages, and beliefs. This contrasts with societies from the past, which were often seen as more homogeneous due to geographic, social, and technological limitations that constrained interaction among diverse groups of people.
Historically, many societies were comprised of individuals with similar cultural practices, beliefs, and genetic ancestries because long-distance communication and travel were limited. Technological advancements like the Internet, faster transportation methods, and global trade have since resulted in societies that are significantly more interconnected and culturally diverse.
This can be related to the concept of organic solidarity in industrial societies, as discussed in sociological theoretical perspectives, where the interdependence of different parts of a society is analogous to the interconnected organs of a living creature.