My history class this year has a lot to do with cultures, and the common features of every culture. So I was thinking... There are a ton of different, alien cultures represented in Stargate. Are they complete cultures? Do they have everything present in cultures? So I took the guide I was working from and applied it to the Goa'uld/Jaffa/Lotaur/Humans civilization.

Customs and traditions
>>holiday traditions--We don't actually know if they have holidays.
>>table manners--Goa'uld: eat food live, two hands, no utensils, wait for group... okay, maybe some dishes every now and then.... Jaffa: cooked food, dishes, probably utensils.
>>what you wear to a prom--they don't have proms, but if they did, Goa'uld: same outfits as usual Jaffa: probably come up with some spiffy-ish dress
>>punishment for murder--Goa'uld or Jaffa: promotion, granted that you've "bested" the right people
>>behavior in a theater--Jaffa: shut up and don't disrupt viewing experience for the "gods" Goa'uld: do whatever you want

Units of Social Organization
>>family--Goa'uld: not so important, loose... Jaffa: tight, loving, honor
>>academic classes--Jaffa: one on one training. If you don't know the First Prime, don't hope to be the First Prime...
>>circle of friends--Jaffa: see above Goa'uld: friends? What friends?
>>occupation--Goa'uld: System Lord or not... Jaffa: First Prime, royal guard, or dead footsoldier... Humans serving Goa'uld: lotaur or not
>>social class--not that I haven't touched on it... Goa'uld System Lords above Mini-Goa'uld above First Prime above Royal Guard above Jaffa footsoldier above Jaffa Priests above Jaffa Priestesses above the Lotaur above the rest of the meddling humans and the young and female Jaffa

Language
>>official language--Goa'uld then English (unless you watch in German or French or Spanish, then it's that....)
>>dialects--"This appears to be written in an obscure dialect of Goa'uld."

Types of Government
Okay, each Goa'uld's territory is pretty much a dictatorship. The whole system lords thing is almost democracy (or an oligarchy), except that they never agree on anything.

Uniqueness of Arts and Literature
Really, what Stargate fan can't tell Goa'uld architecture from Asgard?
>>art--think of that nice little sculpture on top of the vat of symbiotes in the episode where Danny went to Goa'uld Mardi Gras.
>>music--Um... I think there was music... somewhere. I just don't remember where. But sure, they have music...
>>literature--Heiroglyphics. I know it's all history, but I guess it can still be literature. I mean, they've got to have something written in heiroglyphics on all those Ha'taks... unless that's the warrenty...
>>Folk Tales--among Jaffa, at least, there's the legend of Kheb, that of the Tok'ra, and probably other things I forgot...
>>architecture--Goa'uld architecture isn't all that unique, except for the ships. Those are very distinct in the battle between smooth, flowing curves and odd, sharp angles. Jaffa architecture is an interesting blend of stonework and natural roofing, along with wood and or stone doors. Not much in the way of glass, though, as I recall. Think someone should teach them how to get electricity? Light bulbs? Bubble baths? Etc?

Religion
Gee, I wonder what that could be? Not that it's so painfully obvious in the whole show! Everyone under the local Goa'uld is supposed to worship it as a deity, whether that be a Jaffa or human or lotaur. Each local Goa'uld distributes his own creation myth. That's about it.

Economic System
This one's really hard to figure out for Goa'uld/Jaffa society; when do we ever hear of any kind of currency in Goa'uld-town? Never! Sure, they're worried about treasure and they're all greedy, but they're not after any kind of currency. Each Goa'uld provides for himself via the Jaffa (and humans) who serve him, but when do we ever see the Jaffa providing him themselves? You never hear of Jaffa going out on hunting trips or farming, but they have food and meat on the table. You never hear of Jaffa carpenders or construction workers, but they have houses. You never hear of Jaffa schools, but they seem to know everything they need. You never hear of Jaffa entertainment centers, but the youngsters and mothers have to do something all day while their husbands and fathers are off dying on the other side of the galaxy. I think I found where the Stargate people need to use some of that creative energy....