preindustrial
Pre-mechanization era society
Preindustrial describes societies, economies, or periods before the Industrial Revolution transformed production through mechanization.
A preindustrial economy relies on agriculture, craft labor, and animal power rather than factories and machines.
The term often appears in historical or environmental contexts: preindustrial carbon levels, preindustrial farming methods.
Skilled manual tradesperson
- blacksmithIron-shaping craftsperson
- weaverThread-interlacing craftsperson
- potterMaker of clay vessels
- carpenterTimber construction tradesperson
tanner · cobbler · wheelwright · cooper · smithing · loom · kiln · forge
Cultivating land for food
- harvestGathering mature crops
- plowTool for turning soil
- cultivationFostering growth through care
- tillageSoil preparation for planting
sowing · fallow · husbandry · threshing · oxen · yoke · cropland · seedtime
Seeking wild food sources
- huntingPursuing wild game
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
- fishingCatching aquatic creatures
- herdingManaging animal groups
pastoralism · nomadic · seasonal · self-sufficient · homestead · croft · smallholding · commons
Feudal bound labor
- manorLanded aristocratic residence
- lordNobleman or ruler
- vassalLand-holding sworn subordinate
- peasantLow-status agricultural laborer
fiefdom · landholding · tithe · yeoman · squire · gentry · nobility · tenant
Direct goods-for-goods exchange
- merchantOne who sells wares
- guildProfessional mutual-aid society
- marketplaceVenue for commerce
- caravanTraveling group with goods
fair · peddler · hawker · apprentice · journeyman · craftsman · exchange · coinage
Of a clan
- clanRelated group sharing ancestry
- kinshipState of being related
- eldersSenior community members
- lineageDescent from progenitors
inheritance · caste · hierarchy · communal · village · hearth · shamanism · animism
River-powered rotating mechanism
- windmillRotating structure harnessing air
- millstoneGrain-crushing circular stone
- bellowsHandheld device forcing air
- handloomManual weaving apparatus
sundial · quern · treadmill · pulley · lever · kiln · smelting · charcoal
Traveling through unknown regions
- conquestDefeating and seizing control
- imperialismExtending dominion over others
- settlersThose who establish homes
- mercantilismTrade policy favoring exports
plantations · slavery · navigation · expedition · colonies · missionaries · indigenous · subjugation
artisan
Skilled manual tradesperson
- blacksmithIron-shaping craftsperson
- weaverThread-interlacing craftsperson
- potterMaker of clay vessels
carpenter · tanner · cobbler · wheelwright · cooper · smithing · loom · kiln · forge · anvil
farming
Cultivating land for food
- harvestGathering mature crops
- plowTool for turning soil
- cultivationFostering growth through care
tillage · sowing · fallow · husbandry · threshing · oxen · yoke · cropland · seedtime · peasantry
foraging
Seeking wild food sources
herding · pastoralism · nomadic · seasonal · self-sufficient · homestead · croft · smallholding · commons · firewood
serfdom
Feudal bound labor
peasant · fiefdom · landholding · tithe · yeoman · squire · gentry · nobility · tenant · demesne
barter
Direct goods-for-goods exchange
- merchantOne who sells wares
- guildProfessional mutual-aid society
- marketplaceVenue for commerce
caravan · fair · peddler · hawker · apprentice · journeyman · craftsman · exchange · coinage · bazaar
tribal
Of a clan
lineage · inheritance · caste · hierarchy · communal · village · hearth · shamanism · animism · polytheism
waterwheel
River-powered rotating mechanism
- windmillRotating structure harnessing air
- millstoneGrain-crushing circular stone
- bellowsHandheld device forcing air
handloom · sundial · quern · treadmill · pulley · lever · kiln · smelting · charcoal · tallow
exploration
Traveling through unknown regions
- conquestDefeating and seizing control
- imperialismExtending dominion over others
- settlersThose who establish homes
mercantilism · plantations · slavery · navigation · expedition · colonies · missionaries · indigenous · subjugation · charter
- preindustrialguild, agrarian, pastoral, craftsman, rural
- anti-modernismLuddism, Luddite, technophobia, technophobe, anti-technology
- ancientantiquity, archaic, classical, medieval, Middle Ages
- feudalismfief, vassal, fealty, homage, lord
- unpoweredhand tools, manual, hand-operated, human-powered, hand crank
- primitivismprimitivism, tribal art, indigenous art, naive art, outsider art
preindustrialindustrial
Of factories and production
postindustrial · industrialized · modern · mechanized · technological
preindustrialdeveloped
Grew or advanced
mass-production · urbanized · globalized · service economy · industrialized
industry, industrial, industrialist, industrialized, industrialization, industrialize, industrially, industrializing, nonindustrial