Subsistence and Economy

Part 1: Discuss and compare the costs and benefits of the two different subsistence patterns of hunter gatherers and agriculture, addressing the following questions in full:

Agriculture gives people the ability to grow plants and animals that are most beneficial to the complex society's, that are sustainable, healthy and thrive well under environmental stresses. The more food you have to supply the people and your family the larger the population grows. With agriculture come the development of art, sciences and mathematics, with less time spent on hunting and gathering other aspects of culture are able to emerge. Another advantage is the that cities and townships are able to flourish and set roots without the need to be constantly on the move to seek food.

Hunting and gathering is a basic instinctual process of feeding yourself and you family. A great advantage to this method is the variety of food sources and nourishment. Food foraging people are found to be better feed and ward off malnourishment and disease. Diseases are avoided by constantly being on the move and living in smaller groups of people. Since less time is spent farming they are able to concentrate on family ties and spiritual development. Also, it has been found that hunter gathers have better over all dental health and have larger jaws to accommodate more teeth, getting rid of the need to have extra teeth removed.

Agriculture does have disadvantages. With the sudden rise in population and not always having adequate waste disposal disease can easily run rampage though a city.  Fewer variety of food planted can result in malnourishment and rapid tooth decay.  Deforestation threatened periodic food shortages and ultimately social conflict.

There are several disadvantages to hunting and gathering. Environment can change easily and create wet marshes or dry deserts void of food and animal life. There is constant need to travel to find food sources, not leaving much time for other activities and technological advances. Research shows that hunter gathers actually have a healthier diet. The variety of food available provides a wider range of nutrients. Agriculture tends to focus on sustainable plant and animal life, not necessarily a well rounded diet, that can result in an undernourished society.

I think that human populations moved towards agriculture as a survival instinct. If you plant wheat in one place you don't have to spend all day looking for it. Once they realized they could plant different food sources and herd animals, people were able to spend time and focus on other activities and technologies.

Part 2: Economics and Trade:
There is a direct relationship between the availability of surplus and the ability to trade. The more goods you are able to harvest the more you have to barter and trade with. With agriculture came the ability to have more food or supplies then needed for survival, giving people and civilizations things to barter and trade for. No longer was each individual responsible for providing all needs to their family, you could develop a specific skill or job and barter to get items you need.

Trade gave opportunities for travelers to share and give items or food from other cultures, paving the way for learning and sharing technologies instead of only being dependent on your own family or community. Another benefit to trade was the introduction of horses to native cultures in North America. With horses came the ability to track and hunt large animals like bison. Bison was used for food, shelter and tools made of bone.

One example is the Comache from the great plains. The Comache acquired horses and guns from Indian traders and Europeans, resulting in powerful hunting chiefs and later war chiefs. A once peaceful people became wealthy and raiding became their new way of life. Another negative impact of the development of trade is the rise of leaders and economy. Society went from sharing with community to using substance as a way of displaying power and social gain.

Without agriculture hunter gathers wouldn't have much to trade with, they most likely only gathers what then needed. With agriculture people found themselves with a surplus of goods, I think it was only natural that civilizations would share the surplus and eventually realize they can get items in return. Eventually growing large enough to be able to trade with other civilizations and travelers.

By Andrea Garrison