subsistence patterns

Subsistence patterns refer to the ways human groups obtain their food and resources to survive. These patterns are shaped by their environment, culture, and technology. Common types include hunting and gathering, where people collect wild plants and hunt animals; horticulture, which involves small-scale farming using simple tools; pastoralism, focusing on herding animals; and intensive agriculture, with large-scale farming often supporting larger populations. Understanding these patterns helps explain how societies adapt to their surroundings, manage resources, and develop social structures based on their primary means of acquiring food and materials.