Anthropology 330Anthropology 330

Part 5:Part 5:Subsistence Subsistence

and and Economic SystemsEconomic Systems

What Is Subsistence?What Is Subsistence?DEFINITION:DEFINITION:

The ways in which a society makes its living.The ways in which a society makes its living.

Subsistence depends onSubsistence depends on:: The Environmental ContextThe Environmental Context

Group Size Group Size Group MobilityGroup Mobility

Resource Availability Resource Availability Settlement Patterns Settlement Patterns

The Complexity of Tools Used The Complexity of Tools Used The Ways in Which Food Is ObtainedThe Ways in Which Food Is Obtained

The Environmental ContextThe Environmental Context

ClimateClimate Resource InventoryResource Inventory Geographical Distribution of Geographical Distribution of

ResourcesResources Temporal Distribution of Temporal Distribution of

ResourcesResources

Cultural EcologyCultural Ecology

Definition:Definition:

The study of the relationship between a The study of the relationship between a society and its natural environment.society and its natural environment.

EcosystemsEcosystems

This Kayapo woman This Kayapo woman from Brazil knows from Brazil knows not to kill the not to kill the foraging ants in her foraging ants in her garden because they garden because they actually weed and actually weed and fertilize her crops.fertilize her crops.

Carrying CapacityCarrying Capacity

Definition Definition

The maximum number of people a The maximum number of people a given society can support, given the given society can support, given the available resources.available resources.

Humans change the carrying capacity Humans change the carrying capacity of their environments through cultureof their environments through culture

How Does Small Group Size Affect How Does Small Group Size Affect Settlement Patterns?Settlement Patterns?

Small Populations Small Populations Small groups can Small groups can move aroundmove around in in

search of food better than large search of food better than large groups. groups.

Sometimes small groups are Sometimes small groups are sedentary as wellsedentary as well

Small Group Settlement PatternsSmall Group Settlement Patterns Nomadic = moving camp frequently Nomadic = moving camp frequently

and not according to a seasonal plan. and not according to a seasonal plan. Semi-nomadic = moving camp Semi-nomadic = moving camp

several times per year according to a several times per year according to a seasonal plan seasonal plan

Dispersed Homesteads = family Dispersed Homesteads = family compounds that are evenly spread compounds that are evenly spread out over the territory in which the out over the territory in which the group lives.group lives. Small PopulationsSmall Populations

How Does Large Group Size Affect How Does Large Group Size Affect Settlement Patterns?Settlement Patterns?

Larger groups cannot move around in search Larger groups cannot move around in search of food and are more likely to be sedentary of food and are more likely to be sedentary (to stay in one place). (to stay in one place).

Large Group Settlement Patterns Large Group Settlement Patterns Villages = 100’s of people living together in Villages = 100’s of people living together in

one place one place Towns = 1000’s of people living together in Towns = 1000’s of people living together in

one place one place Cities = 10,000’s of people living together in Cities = 10,000’s of people living together in

one placeone place

What Kinds of Tools Are There?What Kinds of Tools Are There?

There are five levels of tool complexity that are There are five levels of tool complexity that are generally identified cross-culturally (Each category generally identified cross-culturally (Each category adds new types of tools to those in the preceding adds new types of tools to those in the preceding categories.) categories.)

Hand tools and carrying containers only (axes, Hand tools and carrying containers only (axes, machetes, digging sticks, etc.) machetes, digging sticks, etc.)

Pack animals (animals used to carry possessions and Pack animals (animals used to carry possessions and people only) people only)

Draft animals and animal-drawn conveyances Draft animals and animal-drawn conveyances (animal drawn plows, carts, wagons, etc.) (animal drawn plows, carts, wagons, etc.)

Mechanization – (machinery outside of a factory Mechanization – (machinery outside of a factory setting) setting)

Industrialization – (machinery in a factory setting)Industrialization – (machinery in a factory setting)

What Kinds of Food Acquisition What Kinds of Food Acquisition Strategies Are There?Strategies Are There?

There are four general types of food acquisition There are four general types of food acquisition strategies that are identified cross-culturally strategies that are identified cross-culturally

Hunting and Gathering/ForagingHunting and Gathering/Foraging = gathering plant = gathering plant foods and insects, hunting animals and fishing. foods and insects, hunting animals and fishing.

PastoralismPastoralism = raising herd animals such as goats, = raising herd animals such as goats, sheep, cattle, camels, yaks, reindeer, llama, etc. sheep, cattle, camels, yaks, reindeer, llama, etc.

HorticultureHorticulture = raising plant crops using hand tools = raising plant crops using hand tools only only

AgricultureAgriculture = raising plant crops using anything = raising plant crops using anything more sophistocated than hand toolsmore sophistocated than hand tools

What Kinds of Agriculture Are There?What Kinds of Agriculture Are There?There are three general types of agriculture There are three general types of agriculture

that are identified cross-culturally that are identified cross-culturally Extensive AgricultureExtensive Agriculture = farming with draft = farming with draft

animals or other techniques that require animals or other techniques that require massive amounts of human labor. massive amounts of human labor.

Intensive agricultureIntensive agriculture = Farming using = Farming using mechanization that reduces the amount of mechanization that reduces the amount of human labor required to produce a crop. human labor required to produce a crop.

Industrial agricultureIndustrial agriculture = corporate farming = corporate farming that produces huge ratios of crop to human that produces huge ratios of crop to human labor input.labor input.

What is a Subsistence Technique?What is a Subsistence Technique?A subsistence technique is a strategy for making a A subsistence technique is a strategy for making a

living that is characterized by population size, tools living that is characterized by population size, tools used, settlement pattern, and ways of obtaining used, settlement pattern, and ways of obtaining food. food.

There are four general subsistence techniques named There are four general subsistence techniques named after the four food acquisition strategies.after the four food acquisition strategies.

Hunting and Gathering/Foraging Hunting and Gathering/Foraging Pastoralism Pastoralism Horticulture Horticulture AgricultureAgriculture

What is Hunting and What is Hunting and Gathering/Foraging?Gathering/Foraging?

Hunting and gathering (sometimes called foraging) Hunting and gathering (sometimes called foraging) means using naturally occurring plant and animal means using naturally occurring plant and animal resources without caring for or replacing them.resources without caring for or replacing them.

These groups are usually characterized by:These groups are usually characterized by: Small populations Small populations Usually mobile - Nomadic or semi-nomadic Usually mobile - Nomadic or semi-nomadic Hand tools and carrying containers only Hand tools and carrying containers only Includes gathering plant and insect resources, Includes gathering plant and insect resources,

hunting animals and/or fishing hunting animals and/or fishing No surplus – surplus left in nature to grow and No surplus – surplus left in nature to grow and

increase natural food suppliesincrease natural food supplies

Historically Known ForagersHistorically Known Foragers

Ju/’hoansiJu/’hoansi

Despite popular Despite popular misconceptions, misconceptions, foragers such as the foragers such as the Ju/’hoansi do not Ju/’hoansi do not live on the brink of live on the brink of starvation.starvation.

InuitInuit To survive in To survive in

their harsh their harsh environment, the environment, the Inuit from Inuit from Nunavut, Nunavut, Canada, have Canada, have had to develop a had to develop a number of number of creative hunting creative hunting strategies, strategies, including the including the recent adoption recent adoption of snowmobiles.of snowmobiles.

What is Pastoralism?What is Pastoralism?Pastoralism means making your living primarily from raising Pastoralism means making your living primarily from raising

herd animals. Pastoralists live their lives according to the herd animals. Pastoralists live their lives according to the needs of their animals, and trade their animal products needs of their animals, and trade their animal products (milk, meat, hides) for other things they need. (milk, meat, hides) for other things they need.

These societies are usually characterized by:These societies are usually characterized by: Populations in the 100’s Populations in the 100’s Usually mobile - Nomadic or semi-nomadic Usually mobile - Nomadic or semi-nomadic Pack animals carry their possessions as they move their Pack animals carry their possessions as they move their

animals to better pasture. animals to better pasture. Breed herd animals for milk, meat, butter, yoghurt, hides Breed herd animals for milk, meat, butter, yoghurt, hides

and blood. and blood. No surplus – surplus is kept alive and breeding in the form No surplus – surplus is kept alive and breeding in the form

of the herd.of the herd.

Social Functions of CattleSocial Functions of Cattle

The use of livestock by pastoralists not only for The use of livestock by pastoralists not only for food and its byproducts but also for purposes food and its byproducts but also for purposes such as marriage, religion, and social such as marriage, religion, and social relationships.relationships.

Stock friendshipStock friendship• A gift of livestock from one man to another to A gift of livestock from one man to another to

strengthen their friendship.strengthen their friendship.

Pastoralists: The NuerPastoralists: The Nuer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0VBnrIkAtA

Neolithic RevolutionNeolithic RevolutionFood Producing SocietiesFood Producing Societies

Transition from food collection to food Transition from food collection to food production began 13,000 years agoproduction began 13,000 years ago

Humans began to cultivate crops and keep Humans began to cultivate crops and keep herds of animals.herds of animals.

Humans were able to produce food rather than Humans were able to produce food rather than rely only on what nature produced.rely only on what nature produced.

Changes Resulting From Food Changes Resulting From Food ProductionProduction

Increased population.Increased population. Populations became more sedentary.Populations became more sedentary. Stimulated a greater division of labor.Stimulated a greater division of labor. Decline in overall health reduced the life Decline in overall health reduced the life

expectancy.expectancy.

What is Horticulture?What is Horticulture?Horticulture means raising plant crops as a main food source Horticulture means raising plant crops as a main food source

using hand tools like digging sticks, machetes, axes and using hand tools like digging sticks, machetes, axes and hoes. The most common form is “slash and burn” or hoes. The most common form is “slash and burn” or “swidden” horticulture, where brush is cut, fields are burned “swidden” horticulture, where brush is cut, fields are burned off and seeds or cuttings are planted by hand.off and seeds or cuttings are planted by hand.

These societies are usually characterized by:These societies are usually characterized by:Populations in the 100’s to 1000’s Populations in the 100’s to 1000’s Usually sedentary - Dispersed homesteads, or villages Usually sedentary - Dispersed homesteads, or villages Hand tools only Hand tools only Domesticated plants are raised, with the specific plants Domesticated plants are raised, with the specific plants

depending on the area of the world – sweet potato, yam, depending on the area of the world – sweet potato, yam, taro, bananas, corn, etc. taro, bananas, corn, etc.

Sometimes surplus, but if so, everyone produces the same Sometimes surplus, but if so, everyone produces the same things in surplus (e.g. all surplus is corn)things in surplus (e.g. all surplus is corn)

Shifting Cultivation (Swidden, Shifting Cultivation (Swidden, Slash and Burn)Slash and Burn)

A form of plant cultivation in which seeds are A form of plant cultivation in which seeds are planted in the fertile soil prepared by cutting planted in the fertile soil prepared by cutting and burning the natural growth; relatively and burning the natural growth; relatively short periods of cultivation are followed by short periods of cultivation are followed by longer periods of fallow.longer periods of fallow.

What is Agriculture?What is Agriculture?Agriculture means raising plants using anything more Agriculture means raising plants using anything more

sophistocated than hand tools. This includes plows, draft sophistocated than hand tools. This includes plows, draft animals, irrigation, chemical fertilizers, mechanization and animals, irrigation, chemical fertilizers, mechanization and industrialization.industrialization.

These societies are usually characterized by:These societies are usually characterized by:

Populations in the 10,000’s and up Populations in the 10,000’s and up Usually sedentary – towns and cities Usually sedentary – towns and cities Plows, draft animals, irrigation, mechanization, Plows, draft animals, irrigation, mechanization,

industrialization industrialization Domesticated plants are raised in huge quantities by a Domesticated plants are raised in huge quantities by a

small segment of the society. small segment of the society. Large surplus – used to allow economic specialists to do Large surplus – used to allow economic specialists to do

things other than produce food. things other than produce food.

Extensive Agriculture: Rice CultivationExtensive Agriculture: Rice Cultivation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c246fZ-7z1wv=c246fZ-7z1w

Rice Farming in Indonesia

Industrialized Food ProductionIndustrialized Food Production

Uses more powerful sources of energy.Uses more powerful sources of energy. Requires:Requires:

• High levels of technology (such as tractors and High levels of technology (such as tractors and combines)combines)

• Mobile labor forceMobile labor force• Complex system of marketsComplex system of markets

Study GuideStudy GuideCultural EcologyCultural EcologySubsistenceSubsistenceEnvironmental contextEnvironmental contextSettlement PatternsSettlement PatternsNomadicNomadicSemi-nomadicSemi-nomadicDispersed HomesteadsDispersed HomesteadsVillagesVillagesTownsTownsCitiesCitiesHand toolsHand toolsPack animalsPack animalsDraught animalsDraught animalsMechanizationMechanizationIndustrializationIndustrializationHunting & GatheringHunting & GatheringForagingForagingPastoralismPastoralismHorticultureHorticultureAgricultureAgricultureIntensive agricultureIntensive agricultureExtensive agricultureExtensive agricultureIndustrial agricultureIndustrial agriculture