Final answer:
Our ancestors adopted a foraging way of life, which involved gathering wild food and hunting animals for survival. This lifestyle shaped their biology and social structures, and allowed for more leisure time compared to farming communities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Our ancestors distinguished themselves from apes by adopting a foraging way of life. Foraging, also known as hunting and gathering, involved searching for and collecting wild food resources such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and hunting animals for meat. This way of life was practiced by early humans for millions of years and shaped their biological evolution. Foraging also influenced early social structures, cultural values, and their knowledge of resources and dangers in their environment.
Contemporary gathering and hunting groups provide insights into the lifestyle of our ancestors. These groups typically live in egalitarian bands, with group decision-making and flexible division of labor based on gender. They value sharing and disapprove of stinginess. Foragers generally had more leisure time compared to later farming communities, which allowed for socializing, relaxation, and cultural activities.