Flashcards for Patterns of Subsistence
Topics 1-2:  Introduction and Foraging
(16 cards)

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Copyright © 2004 by Dennis O'Neil. All rights reserved.

The general term for methods a society uses to obtain its food and other necessities (e.g., foraging, and pastoralism).

subsistence pattern or subsistence base

The term for a subsistence pattern of hunting and gathering wild plants and animals for food and other necessities.

foraging

The term for a subsistence pattern of herding large domesticated animals for food and other necessities.

pastoralism

The term for small-scale, low intensity farming.

horticulture

The term for large-scale, intensive farming.

agriculture

The kind of political organization found among most foraging societies. It consists of a few families living together without formal leadership. There are no special integrative mechanisms other than those available to all types of societies--i.e., kinship and personal persuasion. Political power is diffused or dissipated and decision making is highly democratic.

band

The subsistence pattern that involves diversified hunting and gathering on foot rather than horseback. Most of these societies moved their camps several times a year and had temporary dwellings. The number of people living in a camp also often varied throughout the year depending on the local food supply. Material possessions were generally few and light in weight so that they could be transported easily.

pedestrian foraging

The specialized subsistence pattern in which horses are used extensively for transportation and in hunting large game animals. Most of these kinds of foraging societies evolved on the Great Plains of North America and the sparse grasslands of Southern Argentina.

equestrian foraging

The specialized subsistence pattern that concentrates on fish and/or marine mammal hunting. The most well known foraging societies of this type lived on the Northwest Coast of North America from the Klamath River of California to the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. These societies specialized in salmon fishing along the rivers and hunting seals and whales off the coast.

aquatic foraging

The subsistence pattern of all humans prior to 10,000 years ago.

foraging

The most sought after game animal for the pedestrian foragers of North America.

bison or buffalo

The most sought after game animal for the pedestrian foragers of South America.

guanaco

The subsistence pattern of the Sioux, Crow, and Cheyenne societies of North America.

equestrian foraging

The subsistence pattern of the Kwakiutl and other coastal people of Western Canada.

aquatic foraging

Where most of the !Kung or Dobe Ju/'hoansi people live.

Kalahari Desert in Namibia and Botswana

Another term for foraging.
hunting and gathering