Multilinear evolutionary theory is a theory of social change that holds that change can occur in several different ways and does not inevitably lead all societies through the same fixed stages or in the same direction of development. This perspective acknowledges that societies are complex and adapt to their specific environmental, historical, and cultural contexts, resulting in diverse pathways of social evolution. Unlike earlier unilinear evolutionary theories that posited a single, universal sequence of societal development from simple to complex forms, multilinear evolution recognises the variety of forms that social change can take and the influence of specific local conditions on the trajectory of societal development. It emphasises the importance of studying individual societies in their own unique contexts rather than trying to fit them into a predetermined evolutionary framework.