Primitive Culture

A primitive society (umran badawi) is the simplest of societies. It is characterized by groups of people of the same extended family, living off the land in nomadic or simple agricultural existence. They typically work hard using the simplest of resources and tools to just survive. Their economy is simple and restricted, often based on barter. Their food is plain. Their characters are strong, upright, and well-rounded. Their skills are broad, deep, and practical, allowing them to survive in the toughest of environments. 

There is less possibility for them to be engaged in vice as vice is often detrimental to their subsistent existence. Even if they wish to engage in vices, they usually do not get the opportunities to do so. In contrast, they are more likely to be guided to good moral living if someone preaches that to them as it directly benefits their way of life. 

Social cohesion in primitive societies is primarily through natural kinship and affinity to one's relations. There is a natural propensity among people to defend their own in times of crises or outside threats. In fact, this group solidarity, or what Ibn Khaldun calls Al-Assaabiyah, is the motive for primitive societies to grow and evolve. 

The desire for power, luxury, wealth, and leisure propel the badawi to leverage their Assaabiyah to capture or form urban centers of civilization. The deficiencies in Assaabiyah are offset through religion as it supplements social cohesion making the thrust to a civilized culture very efficient.

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