Final answer:
Gathering-hunting is the fundamental human subsistence activity prevalent for 99% of our evolutionary history. It includes foraging and hunting to meet basic survival needs. Understanding these activities is crucial as foundational knowledge of human needs persists even with technological advancements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fundamental human subsistence activity that has dominated for 99% of our evolutionary career is gathering-hunting. This subsistence strategy involves humans relying on natural resources available in their environment, such as fruits, nuts, berries, and roots, and hunting wild animals. These activities have sustained human societies for over two million years and have been essential for survival and evolution, far more prevalent than farming, which was only developed around 12,000 years ago. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors adapted to gather resources and hunt for food, which also shaped our physiological and psychological aspects.
Despite technological advancements, these basic survival needs still drive many modern professions and industries. Engineering, for example, has developed tools and systems that simplify the acquisition of water, food, shelter, and clothing - but the underlying need for these resources is ever-present. Understanding these fundamental needs, regardless of technological advancements, highlights the importance of being versatile in skills and knowledge. Should technology be stripped away, the knowledge of basic human needs and how to fulfill them through subsistence activities, like gathering or hunting, remains invaluable.