Final answer:
Adaptation to the environment was essential for early humans' survival, with hunting-gathering as a primary way of making a living for over two million years. This lifestyle was closely tied to environmental conditions and resources, leading to a generally egalitarian social structure. The Neolithic Revolution brought significant changes, but not all groups transitioned to farming, opting to continue their hunter-gatherer ways.
Step-by-step explanation:
Adaptation to the environment was crucial for early humans because it determined their survival. They had to find food and shelter, maintain body comfort and health, and interact effectively with their surroundings. Hunting-gathering was the process by which early humans obtained sustenance by collecting natural resources like fruits, nuts, and berries, and by hunting and trapping wild animals. This mode of subsistence was practiced for more than two million years and is fundamental to understanding early human evolution and adaptation.
Successful adaptation to various ecosystems enabled small groups of early humans to traverse the globe. The migratory patterns of these hunter-gatherers were dictated by the availability of resources. As a result, populations remained relatively static due to a lack of surplus food, and their ecological impact was minimal compared to modern societies. The hunter-gatherer lifestyle also fostered an egalitarian social structure, with a flexible division of labor and value placed on sharing resources.
The shift from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a sedentary agricultural one marked a significant transformation in human history, known as the Neolithic Revolution. With the advent of agriculture, social hierarchies developed as some individuals were able to accumulate surplus resources. Nevertheless, not all groups adopted agriculture; some found hunting and gathering more suitable for their environmental conditions and needs, a choice that reflects the diversity and complexity of human societies.