A hunting and gathering society refers to a social and economic system in which human groups primarily rely on hunting animals, fishing, and gathering resources from the natural environment to sustain their livelihoods. It is considered the earliest form of human society, practiced by our ancestors for hundreds of thousands of years before the advent of agriculture and the establishment of settled communities.
In a hunting and gathering society, the main sources of food are obtained through hunting wild animals using tools such as spears, bows and arrows, and traps. Additionally, gathering edible plants, fruits, nuts, and seeds from the surrounding environment serves as a crucial means of subsistence. These societies typically exhibit a nomadic lifestyle, as they move from one location to another in search of food sources that naturally fluctuate based on the seasons and the migration patterns of animals.
Social organization in hunting and gathering societies is often characterized by relatively small bands or tribes, typically comprising a few dozen to a few hundred individuals. These groups are based on kinship ties and operate under egalitarian principles, with shared decision-making and a relatively equal distribution of resources. Gender roles tend to be flexible, with both men and women contributing to different tasks related to gathering, hunting, and childcare.
While hunting and gathering societies have mostly disappeared with the rise of agriculture and industrialization, some isolated communities in remote regions, such as parts of the Amazon rainforest or the Kalahari Desert, have persevered and continue to maintain elements of a traditional hunting and gathering lifestyle.
