Final answer:
Homo sapiens exploited the natural world using gathering and hunting, sophisticated tools, control of fire, and eventually developed agriculture, leading to significant changes in human society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Homo sapiens, or modern humans, used various strategies and tools to exploit the natural world for survival. From our earliest origins, humans relied on gathering and hunting, consuming wild plants and animals, and using sophisticated bone and stone implements, such as weapons and tools. The control of fire was a significant achievement that allowed Homo sapiens to cook food, stay warm, and protect themselves. These early humans also migrated extensively, following game and available vegetation, and learned to interact with diverse environments, which ultimately led to the development of new subsistence practices like cultivation, pastoralism, and agriculture. This shift to agriculture around 12,000 years ago marked the beginning of the Neolithic Age and transformed the way Homo sapiens interacted with their environment, eventually leading to the complex societies we have today.