Subsistence Economic Anthropology

These flashcards cover key concepts in subsistence economic anthropology, including definitions related to modes of production, subsistence strategies, and the social and economic implications of various practices.

Subsistence

The means by which humans obtain their material necessities such as food, clothing, and shelter.

Economic Anthropology

The study of all levels of economic activity and how social, political, and cultural forces shape economic decisions.

Modes of Production

The various methods by which societies produce goods and services, affected by cultural and social organization.

Foraging

A subsistence strategy involving hunting and gathering natural resources, rather than controlling plant and animal reproduction.

Horticulture

Nonindustrial plant cultivation using simple tools without complex technology, typically involving small plots of land.

Agriculture

Intensive cultivation of land using advanced techniques and often involving domesticated animals for production.

Pastoralism

A subsistence strategy focusing on the raising and herding of domesticated animals for food and other resources.

Slash-and-Burn Cultivation

A farming method that involves cutting and burning of vegetation to clear land for planting.

Transhumance

A seasonal pattern of moving with livestock, where some members of the horticultural society move with the herd while others stay in a home village.

Reciprocity

An economic principle in which goods and services are exchanged in a social context, emphasizing social connections and mutual support.