Subsistence and Economy

Part 1

The benefits of a hunter-gatherer system were having less diseases because of constant migration and obtaining a healthier lifestyle because of the diverse range of foods and constant travel. Hunter-gatherers traveled from place to place which produced more exercise and regulation of energy. This idea also makes it less likely to get sick from viruses, infections and diseases. Also, the hunter-gatherer had a wide range of food because of the traveling they did to new environments. This means that they were more likely to eat all sorts of food with good nutrition and made their body more apt to digesting different types of food. Last, their lifestyle had the ability to prolong health by constantly walking and moving, burning more energy and keeping them healthy. The benefits of an agricultural system was that it included a steady source of food and was able to sustain large populations. This society gave people a steady source of food and supply that was used throughout most of the year. Of course, there were minor setbacks like drought and insect infestations. This meant that people were able to concentrate on other skills to prosper in their environments. Finally, the agrarian society settled in large populations because of a steady food source. These people could now stay in a settlement without having to worry searching for food.

The disadvantages of the hunter-gatherer system included having to find food daily in order to sustain their style of living. This meant that there was no permanent source of food, unlike the agrarian culture. Many would likely be able to die from hunger if they did not find food quickly. Another disadvantage included not being able to sustain a large number of people in these societies. they had to travel in small groups in order to be able to eat the food where they traveled. If too many people would join, there might have not been enough food to feed them all. The disadvantages that the agricultural system had was that, although abundant, their food supply was not entirely permanent. This means that they were susceptible to droughts, infestation of insects, and other environmental disasters. Also, because the agricultural system could sustain a large population, it was susceptible to diseases among the people. This could have created a much larger problem for them to deal with than having to worry about their food supply. 

In my opinion, I thought that the hunter-gatherer system provided a much more healthier lifestyle than the agricultural system. Migrating to places created a workout routine for these people and the different varieties of food meant that their body would adapt to change in diet. Because of the notion of having to find food everyday and having to share it meant that these people would eat less portions but more throughout the day, which is very healthy. 

I think that people from long ago chose the agricultural system because of the idea that they could settle and establish larger population. This meant that people could start large families and would not have to worry about feeding them everyday. Having to travel everyday with family could be very strenuous and worrisome especially for children. Being able to have a steady source of food basically meant security of survival. Families would also be able to build relationships with many more other families in these establishments, creating a bond and a sense of community. 

Part 2

  There is a direct relationship between the availability of surplus and the ability to trade because one must have the necessary amount of goods to survive, as well as to trade to other people. It is impossible to trade something that you do not have. Surplus also equates to trade. 

Two social benefits to trade include the increase in social relationships and the increase of being able to be skilled in a particular trade. When two parties trade, they are creating a social relationship between one another because they are trading items that benefit one another. The means that there are now open lines of connection between both parties. It is beneficial to both parties since it creates an economy. In addition, trading allows for a party to be very skilled in trading a particular trade. Since one party may be trading their products to others, they can specialize their technology so they become very efficient in order to make more money. 

Two negative social results of the development of trade include greed and monopolization, and creating debt within two parties in trade. Monopolizing a certain trade could cause harm because that party would have full control of that specific trade which means that they can drive up the cost, chose to trade exclusively, and not allowing other parties to specialize in that trade. Creating debt between both parties can also be a negative result. This means that a party can be very set back on paying back other parties which can, in turn, ruin their own society and specialized trade. If more debt means a low economy, then it cane very hard to come back up and sustain itself. 

Agriculture relates to trade because of the food products that can be traded between parties throughout the world. If one agrarian culture finds a way to grow crops because of the environment, then they can trade their abundant source of crops around the world in order to thrive in commerce and be able to sustain their survival. This helps a lot because many places cannot supply all that they need in order for them to survive. Therefore, trading with other parties helps everyone in return.