Final answer:
Foraging/gathering and hunting constitute an ancient subsistence strategy where people rely on collecting natural resources for survival. This practice has historically provided a balanced diet and good health, exemplified by groups like the Hadza and the Dobe Ju/'hoansi. Despite its enduring presence, this way of life faces contemporary challenges due to changing land use and cultural interferences.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is Foraging/Hunting & Gathering?
Foraging and gathering are part of an ancient subsistence strategy that also includes hunting wild animals. It was the primary means of survival for humans from the time of Homo erectus until at least 10,000 years ago. This way of life involves relying on natural resources available in the environment, which includes the collection of fruits, nuts, berries, roots, and honey, as well as the hunting and trapping of wild animals and fishing in rivers and lakes. The ordering of the terms as gathering-hunting reflects the importance of gathering, which provides the bulk of calories in these societies, challenging previous perceptions that placed greater emphasis on hunting.
Groups like the Hadza of northern Tanzania still practice this lifestyle, although they face modern challenges such as loss of land to agriculture and attempts to shift them to farming. Historically, these communities have been highly knowledgeable about their environments, identifying multitude food sources, while relying largely on a few staple foods available year-round, like the mongongo nuts for the Dobe Ju/'hoansi of the Kalahari Desert.
Gathering-hunting societies like the Hadza and Dobe Ju/'hoansi are often considered the original affluent societies, showing strong bones, lower blood pressure, and generally better health compared to agricultural societies. They also maintain elaborate rituals associated with hunting, reflecting a deep spiritual relationship with their environment and the animals within it.