Subsistence StrategiesSubsistence Strategies

Making a LivingMaking a Living

Subsistence StrategiesSubsistence Strategies

How people get food How people get food from their environmentfrom their environment

Ecological anthropology Ecological anthropology studies the interaction studies the interaction between societies and between societies and their environmentstheir environments

Technology allows an Technology allows an area to support higher area to support higher population densitypopulation density

Humans and the environmentHumans and the environment

Up until 10,000 ya humans foragedUp until 10,000 ya humans foraged About 10,000 ya we began to domesticate About 10,000 ya we began to domesticate

plants and animalsplants and animals About 6,000 ya in new worldAbout 6,000 ya in new world

Domestic animals supported larger populations Domestic animals supported larger populations and sedentary villages developedand sedentary villages developed

Sedentary life led to cultivation and more Sedentary life led to cultivation and more complex social structurecomplex social structure

Humans and the environmentHumans and the environment

Why did some societies remain foragers rather Why did some societies remain foragers rather than adopt domestication?than adopt domestication?

In some environments foraging is more reliableIn some environments foraging is more reliable

Subsistence StrategiesSubsistence Strategies

Foraging – use plant and animal resources naturally Foraging – use plant and animal resources naturally available in the environmentavailable in the environment

Pastoralism – care of domesticated herd animals for Pastoralism – care of domesticated herd animals for dairy and meat fooddairy and meat food

Horticulture – production of plants using simple, non-Horticulture – production of plants using simple, non-mechanized technologymechanized technology

Agriculture – production of plants using more Agriculture – production of plants using more complex techniques that allow permanent cultivationcomplex techniques that allow permanent cultivation

Industrialism – use of machine technology and Industrialism – use of machine technology and chemical processes for the production of food chemical processes for the production of food

Subsistence StrategiesSubsistence Strategies

Societies may use one Societies may use one or a combination of or a combination of subsistence strategiessubsistence strategies

Resources can be Resources can be extended by trading extended by trading with a group that uses a with a group that uses a different subsistence different subsistence strategystrategy

Subsistence StrategiesSubsistence Strategies

Foraging – uses plant and animal resources Foraging – uses plant and animal resources naturally available in the environmentnaturally available in the environment Hunting of large and small gameHunting of large and small game FishingFishing Collecting various foods and plantsCollecting various foods and plants

Supports low population densitySupports low population density Inuit of the Arctic CircleInuit of the Arctic Circle Australian AboriginesAustralian Aborigines

ForagingForaging

Inuit of the Arctic CircleInuit of the Arctic Circle Rely on large animals, seals, whales, caribouRely on large animals, seals, whales, caribou Depends on detailed knowledge of environment and Depends on detailed knowledge of environment and

animal behavior, patience, problem solving, cooperation, animal behavior, patience, problem solving, cooperation, avoiding conflictavoiding conflict

Men hunt, women process and distribute meat, oil, skinsMen hunt, women process and distribute meat, oil, skins

ForagingForaging

Australian AboriginesAustralian Aborigines Plant foods available Plant foods available

naturally, some huntingnaturally, some hunting Depends on detailed Depends on detailed

knowledge of environment, knowledge of environment, cooperation, food and water cooperation, food and water managementmanagement

Men and women forage for Men and women forage for plants and small animalsplants and small animals

ForagingForaging Social patterns associated with foragingSocial patterns associated with foraging

Seasonal nomadism, gather in larger groups seasonallySeasonal nomadism, gather in larger groups seasonally Organization of society into small camps with flexible Organization of society into small camps with flexible

membership membership

Subsistence StrategiesSubsistence Strategies

Pastoralism - care of domesticated herd animalsPastoralism - care of domesticated herd animals Used in semiarid grasslands that do not support Used in semiarid grasslands that do not support

agriculture but grazing animals can digest grassagriculture but grazing animals can digest grass Herd animals produce milk and meatHerd animals produce milk and meat – –

cattle, sheep, goats,cattle, sheep, goats, yaks, camels yaks, camels

PastoralismPastoralism

Transhumant pastoralism – men and boys Transhumant pastoralism – men and boys move animals to different pastures at different move animals to different pastures at different altitude or climatic zone while women and altitude or climatic zone while women and children remain a permanent villagechildren remain a permanent village

Nomadic pastoralism – whole population, Nomadic pastoralism – whole population, men, women and children move with the herd men, women and children move with the herd and there are no permanent villagesand there are no permanent villages

PastoralismPastoralism

Complex interaction of land animals and peopleComplex interaction of land animals and people Knowledge of how many animals the land can sustainKnowledge of how many animals the land can sustain Knowledge of how many animals needed to support people Knowledge of how many animals needed to support people

in the groupin the group Trade with sedentary neighbors necessary for grain and Trade with sedentary neighbors necessary for grain and

manufactured goodsmanufactured goods Social pattern:Social pattern:

Patrilineal kinshipPatrilineal kinship

Subsistence StrategiesSubsistence Strategies

Horticulture - production of plants using Horticulture - production of plants using simple, non-mechanized technologysimple, non-mechanized technology

Allow fields to rest fallow after cultivationAllow fields to rest fallow after cultivation Use only digging sticks or hoes, do not use Use only digging sticks or hoes, do not use

plows, draft animals, or irrigationplows, draft animals, or irrigation

HorticultureHorticulture

Swidden or slash and burn cultivation – Swidden or slash and burn cultivation – Trees are felled and brush is burnedTrees are felled and brush is burned Ash fertilizes soilAsh fertilizes soil Fields used for 3 – 5 yearsFields used for 3 – 5 years Fields lie fallow up to 20 years to allow forest to regrowFields lie fallow up to 20 years to allow forest to regrow

Requires 5- 6 times as much fallow land as cultivated Requires 5- 6 times as much fallow land as cultivated landland

Land will deteriorate if not allowed to lie fallow long Land will deteriorate if not allowed to lie fallow long enoughenough

HorticultureHorticulture

No surplus foodNo surplus food Most horticulturists also Most horticulturists also keep keep

domesticated animals or huntdomesticated animals or hunt Social patterns:Social patterns:

diverse environments diverse environments and and diverse culturesdiverse cultures

Most shift residence as they move fields Most shift residence as they move fields but some maintain permanent villagesbut some maintain permanent villages

Subsistence PatternsSubsistence Patterns

Agriculture - production of plants using more complex Agriculture - production of plants using more complex techniques that allow permanent cultivation techniques that allow permanent cultivation

Use of plow, draft animals, complex water and soil Use of plow, draft animals, complex water and soil control, irrigationcontrol, irrigation

Supports higher population density and requires more i Supports higher population density and requires more i laborlabor

AgricultureAgriculture

Requires more Requires more investment of capital investment of capital than horticulturethan horticulture

More vulnerable to More vulnerable to environment because of environment because of reliance on few crops reliance on few crops and draft animalsand draft animals

AgricultureAgriculture

Social patterns associated with agricultureSocial patterns associated with agriculture Sedentary villages, social stratification, occupational Sedentary villages, social stratification, occupational

diversity, organization of statediversity, organization of state

Subsistence StrategiesSubsistence Strategies

Industrialism – use of machine technology and Industrialism – use of machine technology and chemical processes for the production of foodchemical processes for the production of food

Consumption must constantly increase and Consumption must constantly increase and standard of living must always go upstandard of living must always go up

Shift from subsistence strategies to wage laborShift from subsistence strategies to wage labor

IndustrialismIndustrialism

Globalization – integration of resources, labor, Globalization – integration of resources, labor, and capital into a global networkand capital into a global network

Industrial societies have at least two social Industrial societies have at least two social classes:classes: Labor forceLabor force Managerial classManagerial class Smaller class that Smaller class that

controls production controls production and distributionand distribution

Subsistence StrategiesSubsistence Strategies

Anthropology is in the position to study the Anthropology is in the position to study the various impacts of subsistence strategies on various impacts of subsistence strategies on the environment and make a contribution to the environment and make a contribution to improve our care of the environment as well as improve our care of the environment as well as production of foodproduction of food