IndexIntroductionCharacteristics of hunter-gatherer societiesConclusionReferencesIntroductionThe practice of hunting and gathering has been labeled in human history as the first and most successful adaptation of mankind . This type of subsistence lifestyle has been recorded since the dawn of human history, when humans discovered that they could support themselves and their families through nature's bounty by harvesting wild plants and hunting wild animals. Throughout history, people realized that they could be more successful by connecting with other hunter-gatherers, forming societies which obviously led to variations of this type of society, with specific social, economic, moral structures, beliefs and many other aspects related to the hunter-gatherer society, which we will talk about in this essay. These characteristics will be supported by examples of existing companies of this type. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Characteristics of Hunter-Gatherer Societies The first characteristic to discuss is the social, economic, and political structures within hunter-gatherer societies. All hunter-gatherer societies tend to display an egalitarian ethic, a result of the fact that they are primarily nomadic. The exceptions among these societies are the sedentary type. If a hunter-gatherer society is stable, the social structures and most characteristics depend on several factors, unlike the nomadic type, which is the topic of this essay. These types of societies tend to have no leaders; instead, depending on the task performed, anyone can take the initiative at any time. One feature noted in most hunter-gatherer societies studied is the sexual division of labor. Women tend to collect wild plants, while men focus on hunting animals. Even though they perform separate tasks, both genders help each other in their respective tasks and there is a sense of gratitude for each other's actions. A popular example of a hunter-gatherer society is the Hadza tribe, an indigenous group of people located in north-central Tanzania. This tribe is organized into bands, or camps, made up of 20 to 30 members. Band members are not necessarily related; there is a mix of people, the result of the fact that they can choose who they want to be in a band with. However, the number of members in these fields may increase during the berry season. Food is shared among all camp members, and caring for children and sharing daily tasks such as building, maintaining living spaces, and transporting goods are common responsibilities among the Hadza people. Differing from the aforementioned tribe are the !Kung, who are found at the western end of the Kalahari Desert, in northern Namibia and southern Angola. Kinship is the main principle of organization in this tribe. However, groups are highly unlikely to have a leader or a single person in power. They have some sense of leadership, even if they don't depend on it. Furthermore, there is virtually no cohesion between groups, and traditions and customs seem to be replaced by impulse and habit. Highly characteristic of this tribe is the expression of individualism, to the point that personal interest comes before the good of the community. Individuals who display courage, endurance, agility, and other similar qualities become the unofficial leaders of the group. Another onea notable feature among hunter-gatherer tribes is the Mbuti people, located in the Congo region of Africa. The highest level of social organization is a gang. Each family has their own hut, which they build themselves, and these are temporary structures. Similar to the societies mentioned previously, the Mbuti people have no formal leaders, but leadership may emerge during hunting trips. These leaders, possessing greater hunting skills than others, come to eat more meat than others. Both genders have the same power and everyone talks to everyone, regardless of gender. Although somewhat similar in social and political structures, these tribes have different marriage customs. The Hadza people are primarily monogamous, although this is not socially enforced. One of the core values ​​they look for in a partner, who they choose, is to be a hard worker. They also consider physical characteristics such as symmetry, a sexually dimorphic tone of voice, and average characteristics that fall within the range of the opposite sex they are interested in. Among the !Kung, however, marriage is seen as an intergroup alliance. When a young girl becomes a woman, she is considered ready for marriage. In their culture, the emphasis is on the union itself rather than on choosing a specific man. However, they have some specifics, such as that the man is not significantly older than the woman, is unmarried rather than divorced, is skilled in hunting, and is ready to take on responsibilities within his wife's family. The last specification derives from the fact that the wife's family depends heavily on that of the husband for trade. Furthermore, in the Mbuti tribe, the most widespread form of marriage is the exchange of female kinship. Bridewealth is not necessarily customary and there is no formal wedding ceremony. Two individuals are considered married when the male presents the female's family with an antelope, which he has hunted and killed. Sexual intercourse between two unmarried individuals is viewed differently than that between a married couple, due to the belief that children should only be conceived within marriage. Another crucial distinction between these tribes lies in the way they hunt animals and gather wild plants, each with its own distinct rules and even rituals. The Mbuti pygmies are most famous for hunting the giant forest pig, Africa's largest wild pig. However, the meat of this animal is not consumed but rather traded between the pygmies and Bantu farming groups. Pork is considered "kweri", meaning that it is a malevolent animal that could cause disease. Another reason is unofficial reports indicating that the giant forest pig preys on children. Furthermore, they hunt other non-kweri animals for meat, while the plants they harvest include bananas, root plants, palms, legumes, sweet potatoes, and beans, in certain periods. seasons, wild honey. Pygmies typically use traps, nets, bows and arrows for hunting. Importantly, both sexes participate in hunting and gathering, demonstrating an equal division of labor. The !Kung people demonstrate precision in their hunting approach, meticulously tracking, attacking, and hauling wounded animals. A distinctive ritual of this tribe prevents arrogance among male hunters. When a hunter successfully kills an animal, he leaves the carcass behind and returns, pretending to have failed. The next day, a group of hunters will inspect their traps, inevitably discovering the dead animal. However, credit for the kill does not go to the hunter who physically killed the prey, but rather to the person who made the killarrows used in hunting. hunting. The individual who follows the established rules for distributing the meat of the hunt is typically the one who forged the arrows, often a village elder. Being a tribe that values ​​the well-being of the community, the village elders distribute food among the members. If a successful hunt results in a surplus of food, this can also be shared with other tribes. Among the Hadza tribe, men generally hunt individually, while women tend to forage in groups. However, there are exceptions. During the rainy season, their diet mainly consists of honey, fruit and occasionally meat. On the contrary, in the dry season meat becomes the main component, as prey gathers around water sources. In such scenarios, men often mate, waiting for nightfall to attempt to kill wild animals using bows and arrows coated in poison. Members of this tribe are highly skilled and adaptable hunters who can easily adjust their diet based on the season. Most men do not rely on hunting dogs but instead employ weapons such as axes, bows, poisoned arrows, and knives. Women, however, use sticks to dig, grass baskets to carry plants and cloth bags to carry objects. Childbirth holds great significance among the !Kung people. Women of this tribe enter womanhood, marked by their first menstrual cycle around age 16.5. They usually give birth to their first child at age 19 and have their last child in their late 30s. A defining characteristic of this tribe is that women give birth unassisted, relying on Mother Earth as their midwife. They tend to distance themselves from the tribe, walking about a mile away from the camp. The umbilical cord remains intact and the placenta is placed next to the baby, acting as a sort of guardian. Although this is a rare occurrence, if a woman's birth is delayed, the older women of the tribe will try to help her. Women tend to raise their child for 3-5 years before becoming pregnant again once the previous child is at least 5 years old. This system makes it easier to travel long distances on foot. A distinctive aspect of the Pygmy tribe is the mythology linked to the forest. Pygmies consider the forest as their mother or father, the provider and the great protector. One of the most important rituals in their culture, which is said to have the greatest impact on their lives, is the molimo. This ritual is performed loudly to awaken the forest, as they believe that if any misfortune befalls their children, the forest must be asleep. The timing of this ritual is not fixed; rather it depends on the mood of the gang. The instrument used for this rite is also called molimo, trumpet. It is usually made of bamboo, although the use of metal drain pipes is also possible. When not in use, the mole is stored among the trees in the forest. Conclusion In modern times, the territory of the Hadza tribe has shrunk due to the invasion of neighboring tribes. Parts of their land are within private hunting lands where they are confined to specific areas and cannot hunt. While they have become a tourist attraction, a lesser-known fact is that the money provided to them has contributed to increased rates of alcoholism, alcohol poisoning, and even death. Like the Hadza, the pygmies are also under threat. They have no legal protection from the Democratic Republic of Congo and their territorial borders are not well defined. Due to the depletion of Congo's natural resources, including deforestation, gold mining, external influences.