Final answer:
Societies with large populations and advanced division of labor have distinct characteristics such as specialization, where individuals perform specific roles, social hierarchies based on wealth and occupation, and technological advancements that affect social structures and work conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Societies with large populations, an extensive division of labor, and occupational specialization exhibit certain characteristics that set them apart from smaller, less specialized communities. These societies often develop where a surplus of food and materials allow for population growth and the emergence of cities. In these urban centers, individuals rely on specialization and the exchange system for goods and services, enabling them not to produce everything they need. Each individual or group specializes in a specific task such as farming, tool making, or religious rituals, contributing to the overall well-being of the community.
These societies also tend to have social hierarchies, where wealth and occupation play significant roles in determining one's social class. In Mesopotamian cities, for instance, a wide variety of specialized occupations existed from weavers to scribes to rulers, demonstrating the high level of occupational specialization. The development of large-scale architecture is both a product and indicator of such societies, as it requires a well-organized, stratified, and specialized workforce.
Moreover, the advancement in technology impacts these societies significantly. Technological sophistication enables better control over the environment, leading to industrial or post-industrial stages where occupation becomes a major component of social identity and class systems. This development has profound effects on the nature of work, such as regimented wage labor and the changing family structures from extended to nuclear families.