Final answer:
Some South American groups remained nomadic due to environmental and social factors favoring mobility and an egalitarian society, as well as economic reasons such as resource competition. Pastoralists, in particular, chose to continue herding due to the necessity of following grazing animals. Over time, nomadic lifestyles have been continuously influenced by climate change and political factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Some groups in South America continued to live as nomads after the development of agriculture due to various environmental, social, and economic reasons. Nomadic societies, such as pastoralists, relied on domesticated animals and followed them to fresh grazing grounds, necessitating constant movement. These societies valued the egalitarian nature of their communities and often found agriculture less suitable than hunting, gathering, or herding due to the varied diet they enjoyed, the risks of sedentary life including exposure to disease, and the competition for resources with settled agricultural communities.
Additionally, many nomadic groups were resilient to control by states due to their mobility, which was a strategic advantage in areas of scarce resources like the Eurasian steppe or African savannas. Climate change and political conflicts have persisted in shaping the nomadic way of life even in the twenty-first century, impacting the availability of grazing lands and leading to conflicts with settled communities, underscoring the adaptive nature of nomadic societies.
The decision to maintain a nomadic lifestyle despite the agricultural advances often stemmed from a calculated choice that this way of life was better suited to the particular needs and environments of these groups, highlighting the importance of understanding the context in which historical developments like the Neolithic Revolution unfolded.