World History The family served as the basic social and economic unit in China. It took on a sacred role, and an increasingly important one with the need for cooperation in cultivating rice. Rice became the primary crop because it was highly productive, with high nutritional value. But it was also very labor intensive, which helped to solidify the importance of the community and family. The concept of family included five cardinal, hierarchical relationships: Ruler to subject—all were subject to the king.Father to son—the son was subordinate to the father. Husband and wife—the wife was subordinate to her husband.Older brother to younger brother—the younger brother was subordinate to the older brother.Friend to friend—a friend had a proper (and reciprocal) relationship to a friend. What are the similarities and differences in these relationships in our modern day society?
