The layers of rocks that are formed through a sedimentation process are called strata.
Stratum has its origin in the Latin word stratus and allows reference to the set of elements that share certain common characteristics and that are integrated with other sets to form an entity .
In geology , a stratum is each of the layers into which rocks can be divided due to the sedimentation process. Strata appear as horizontal layers of more or less uniform thickness, with sharp interfaces compared to the youngest stratum above and the oldest, which is below. The oldest layer is known as the base or wall, while the youngest is called the roof.
Different meanings of stratum
Strata are also the superimposed layers found in archaeological or fossil sites.
In the field of biology , strata are the layers of organic tissue . We can speak, for example, of the strata of the skin (stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, etc.).
In another sense, a stratus cloud is a cloud that appears in the form of a band on the horizon. It is characterized by exhibiting horizontal layers with a uniform base, generally located at a low altitude.
Societies can be divided into strata or classes.
Social classes
The stratum can also be linked to the socioeconomic level of the different sectors of society . In this way, society can be divided into different classes or layers according to their stratum.
The lower strata are made up of the population that receives less income and, therefore, has limited access to resources and difficulties in meeting their basic needs. The higher strata, on the other hand, are associated with the wealthiest sectors of society.
Differentiation of the strata of a society
Social stratification is the process that distinguishes various horizontal groups in a society, which are differentiated vertically according to a certain set of criteria . Its main use is to show the social inequality of a region with respect to the distribution of resources, and this can be seen in the very name of the concept, which inevitably speaks of a hierarchy.
The inequality of different groups in a society is a phenomenon that transcends time in a relatively consistent and coherent way. The members of a social stratum are groups of people who occupy a similar position on the social scale, and this includes their values, their lifestyle , their beliefs and their ways of acting and showing themselves, among other factors.
One of the most distinctive characteristics of one social stratum compared to another is the amount of power or privileges that it is given. It is worth mentioning that it is also possible to analyze social stratification taking into account properties such as age, gender and ethnicity.
Slavery and caste system
There are several types of social stratification; the two with the greatest impact are the following:
* Slavery : This is inequality taken to the extreme, since it consists of depriving a living being of its freedom , turning it into property. In some cases, as in Athens, slaves had to assume great responsibilities, despite being considered possessions of other people. The most cruel and inconsiderate examples can perhaps be seen in the construction of the Egyptian pyramids; unfortunately, while humanity has almost unanimously come to despise this kind of treatment towards other people, animals continue to be legal slaves throughout the world and only a few are concerned with giving them back their freedom;
* Caste systems : These exist mainly in India and their etymology, with roots in Portuguese, speaks of the purity of a race or a lineage . It is a type of stratification that varies in the different parts of the world that have it. Some of the most mentioned castes are the pariahs and the Brahmins.