Reading Wk 9: Pastoralism

What is pastoralism?

A subsistence strategy based on the domestication and herding of animals.

Which animals were among the first to be domesticated?

Goats, sheep, and cattle around 10,000–12,000 years ago.

What is transhumance?

A seasonal migration between different pastures.

What is the "secondary products revolution"?

The use of animals for products beyond meat, such as milk and wool.c

How did pastoralism contribute to the evolution of lactose tolerance?

Early dairying practices selected for individuals who could digest lactose.

Name an example of zoonotic disease linked to livestock.

Rinderpest, which affected both cattle and humans.

What challenges do pastoralists face today?

Overgrazing, habitat loss, and the spread of zoonotic diseases.

Which animals were domesticated in the Andes?

Llamas and alpacas.

 What environmental benefit does nomadic pastoralism offer?

It disperses waste and reduces the spread of infectious diseases.

Who was E.E. Evans-Pritchard, and what did he study?

An ethnographer who documented the pastoral practices of the Nuer in Sudan.