Patterns of Subsistence

Patterns of Subsistence

Pastoralism: pastoralism is when people make lives by the help of tending herds and large animals. Pastoralism includes animals like horses, cattle, camels, etc as a part of their herd. There are two ways of migration under Pastoralism, they are Nomadism and Transhumance. Nomadism includes not permanent settlements and the migration pattern vary as well, the people are self-sufficient as well. Whereas Transhumance has people moving to and fro from two places. The houses and the village settlement is permanent. Both these societies are male dominant and work division is based on gender.

 Foraging: Foraging is an ancient pattern of subsistence of humans. They depend upon the environment and what it offers. They do not have animals and also don’t engage in agriculture. The men are hunters and the females are gatherers, therefore this was a male dominated society. The activities mostly depended on the gender where as some didn’t and the dwellings were temporary rather than permanent. The availability of food and water played a huge part in the choosing of a place to stay. The community sizes were limited. Their way of hunting and gathering was divided into three Pedestrian which was diversified hunting and gathering on foot, Equestrian which was hunting for large animals on horsebacks and Aquatic for fishing. Most ancient form of subsistence. They have domestic dogs so that they protect, detect and help in hunting.

Horticulture: is a small scale farming with low intensity, it was also part time planting and tending of domestic plants. However, hunting and gathering was a part occasionally practised. The productivity is higher and it also has more population than foraging and pastoralism. They don’t only farm but also exchange goods and sell in markets for living. The trade is only done by a few. They don’t use pesticides or large machinery and do most of their work by hand. They also have particular shifting patterns.

Intensive Agriculture: this is the subsistence of large and populous societies and are modern large scale societies. It is primary food production pattern and is developed and is developing. This has increased by a large amount in the last century. It uses pesticides, chemicals and large machinery. Most of the work is performed through the usage of machines now. These are permanent settlements and this increases job opportunities amongst people.