Final answer:
For the majority of human history, the predominant subsistence strategy has been hunting and gathering, which includes sourcing food through hunting, fishing, and collecting wild plants. This method was primary for about 95% of human evolutionary history, although societies have often supplemented it with other strategies like farming and pastoralism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subsistence strategy used for the majority of human existence is hunting and gathering. This type of strategy involves sourcing food by hunting wild animals, fishing, and gathering wild plants, fruits, nuts, and berries. For approximately 95% of human evolutionary history, this was the primary way humans and their ancestors survived in their environments.
Hunting and gathering was practiced from the time of Homo erectus until around 10,000 years ago, when other subsistence practices such as farming began to emerge. However, even after the advent of agriculture, hunting and gathering continued to be a significant aspect of human survival for many groups. It was not just a primary mode but often supplemented by other methods such as pastoralism and agriculture.
Anthropologists emphasize that modes of subsistence are not static; they evolve and adapt in response to various factors including population pressures, technological advancements, trade, and environmental changes. Therefore, it's common for societies to blend several strategies, with one often being dominant while incorporating elements from others to sustain their livelihoods.