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Class 12 Anthropology Chapter 5 Concept of Economic Anthropology
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Concept of Economic Anthropology
Chapter – 5
| QUESTIONS |
A. Very Short Questions:
1. What is the oldest form of livelihood?
Ans: The oldest form of livelihood is hunting and gathering.
2. What is the first domesticated animal of man?
Ans: Goat is the first domesticated animal of man.
3. In which prehistoric period the fishing economy was started?
Ans: In the upper Paleolithic period the fishing economy was started.
4. What is the main source of livelihood of the Todas of Nilgiri Hills?
Ans: The main source of livelihood of the Todas of the Nilgiri Hills is dairy farming, especially buffalo herding.
5. Name one pastoral tribe of North East India.
Ans: Monpa is the pastoral tribe of North East India.
6. In which prehistoric period agriculture was first started?
Ans: Agriculture was first started during the Neolithic Age.
7. Name the prehistoric period from which the domestication of animal started?
Ans: In the Neolithic Period domestication of animals started.
8. Name one community of North East India that practice terrace cultivation.
Ans: Apatanis of Arunachal Pradesh of North East India that practice terrace cultivation.
B. Short questions:
1. Name two communities who practices shifting cultivation.
Ans: Two communities who practices shifting cultivation are: khasis Ao nagas, Bogma etc.
2. Write the names of any six fishing implements used in rural parts of Assam.
Ans: The names of any six fishing implements used in rural parts of Assam are:
(i) Jaal.
(ii) Polo.
(iii) Jakoi.
(iv) Khaloi.
(v) Chepa.
(vi) Juluki.
3. Write the names of any six agricultural implements used in the rural parts of Assam.
Ans: The names of any six agricultural implements used in the rural parts of Assam are:
(i) Nangal.
(ii) Jeng.
(iii) Kobari.
(iv) Moi.
(v) Daa.
(vi) Kopou.
4 What do you mean by simple economy?
Ans: Simple societies economic organization are of subsistence type, that is, production and consumption are the two most important features in these types of economies. In simple economies the mode of production is very simple. It is based on the tradition and culture of the particular society. Barter or mutual exchange of goods is the basis for distribution. Therefore, the simple primitive economy is known as subsistence economy.
5. Write the salient features of simple economy.
Ans: The salient features of simple economy are as follow:
(i) People have few and basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter.
(ii) Families or small communities produce what they need.
(iii) Goods and services are exchanged without the use of money.
(iv) People perform multiple tasks instead of having specific jobs.
(v) Only small-scale production is done to meet local needs.
(vi) Traditional tools and methods are used.
(vii) Money, banking, and complex trade systems are absent.
6. What do you mean by subsistence economy? Write the salient features of subsistence economy.
Ans: Subsistence economy is one type of economic system in which people use what they themselves produce in order to meet their own needs. Accordingly, the subsistence economy has been broadly divided into two categories- namely Food Gathering and Food Production.
The salient features of subsistence economy are as follow:
(i) Subsistence economy uses community or family labour.
(ii) For agriculture purposes, primitive people use primitive tools like digging sticks, dao, hoe etc.
(iii) Subsistence economy depends on different environmental conditions, natural fertility of the soil and the monsoon.
(iv) Separate existence of producer and consumer can not be seen in primitive societies. In this type of society, the producer and the consumer are the same person.
(v) The economic system is not much organized or controlled like modern industrial society. In this society every family is economically self dependent and it is the functional unit of self dependent society.
(vi) It is a small-scale economy where the transaction of goods takes place within a small geographical area and within a small community.
(vii) The technological aids are absent and hence exploitation of nature is carried inadequately and inefficiently. This resulted in a less or rare surplus.
7. What do you mean by food gathering economy? What are the different types of gathering economy?
Ans: A food gathering economy is an early form of economic system in which people depend on nature for food by gathering wild fruits, roots, nuts, and herbs, and by hunting animals and fishing. It is characteristic of the Palaeolithic Age when humans had no knowledge of agriculture or animal domestication.
Types of gathering economy are:
(i) Gathering.
(ii) Hunting.
(iii) Fishing.
8. What do you mean by pastoralism? Write the salient features of pastoralism.
Ans: Pastoralism is a form of animal husbandry where domesticated animals are released onto large vegetated outdoor lands (pastures) for grazing, historically by nomadic people who moved around with their herds. Pastoralism is raising and herding animals for meat, hides, milk and the products that can be derived from them.
The salient features of pastoralism are as follow:
(i) Pastoralists are people who rear animals and move from one place to another in search of green pastures. They are nomadic tribes who need to move from one place to another to save their animals from adverse climatic conditions and to provide meadows or pastures regularly.
(ii) Some of the pastoral nomads move to combine a range of activities-cultivation trade and herding- to make their living.
(iii) Pastoral nomadism is a form of life that is perfectly suited to many hilly and dry regions of the world. Pastoral movement allows time for the natural restoration of vegetation growth. Pastoralist plays an important role as moving traders.
(iv) In search of good pasture land for their cattle the pastoralist move over long distances selling plough cattle and other goods to villagers in exchange for grain and fodder.
9. What is terrace cultivation?
Ans: Terrace cultivation is a method of growing crops on the slopes of hills or mountains by cutting the land into graduated steps or terraces. These terraces help to retain rainwater and prevent soil erosion. It is considered a form of wet cultivation and is irrigated naturally as rainwater flows from the top terrace to the lower terraces. In this method, seeds are not broadcast or sown, and the land is tilled using hoes.
C. Essay Type Question:
1. What is shifting cultivation? Discuss the merits and demerits of shifting cultivation.
Ans: Shifting cultivation is an extensive farming practice and refers to an agricultural system in which a plot of land is temporarily cleared usually by burning and cultivated for short periods of time, then abandoned and left in fallow for more extended periods of time.
Merits of Shifting Cultivation:
(i) Shifting cultivation allows the land to rejuvenate and get back its lost nutrients; It is one of the sustainable cultivation methods as long as no harmful damage is caused to the land.
(ii) Shifting cultivation also ensures more productivity and sustainability in agriculture.
(iii) The slash -and- burn method allows the cultivators to easily grow crops and thus shifting cultivation is known as slash and burn cultivation.
(iv) In this type of cultivation, groups of people work together as such individual labour is minimized.
(v) Multiple cropping ensures production of a variety of cereals and vegetation.
(vi) The implement used in this type of cultivation is very simple.
(vii) Shifting cultivation do not require tilling of soil, irrigation facilities, fertilizer, etc.
Demerits of shifting cultivation:
(i) Shifting cultivation destroys the forest resources due to cutting of trees and plants. This also results in short supply of building materials.
(ii) Shifting cultivation also cause soil erosion and desertification.
(iii) The wild animals loss their source of food and shelter.
(iv) The frequent cutting of trees effect the climate of a region. It leads to low rainfall and drying up of springs in the hills and forests.
(v) The shifting cultivators lack knowledge regarding use of improved variety of seeds, fertilizers, etc. hence they have less production and produce are considered uneconomical
2. What are the different types of subsistence economy? Mention the characteristics features of food gathering economy.
Ans: Types of subsistence economy are:
Characteristics of food gathering societies
(i) Small in size: Food gathering societies consists of very small but scattered groups. The environment in which they live cannot support a large concentration of people. They live in small primary groups and sometimes their number does not even exceed 40-50 numbers.
(ii) Not desired to acquire wealth: There is no strong desire among their people to acquire wealth for two main reasons.
(a) First no individual can acquire wealth for there is no wealth to be acquired.
(b) Secondly, sharing is a norm in such societies. Hence people who do find substantial food resources are expected to share it with the whole community.
(iii) Family and Kinship are the only defined institutions: Food gathering people have the only interconnected social institutions which are somewhat well defined namely; family and kinship.
(iv) Absence of political institution: The political institutions are not found in the food gathering societies. Statuses in these societies are essentially equal and hence the difference between the leader and followers is not there. Most decisions are made through group discussions.
(v) Limited or no division of labour: There is no scope for division of labour in their society except along the lines of sex. Man and woman, young and old perform different roles, but there are no specialized occupational roles. There is gender based division of labour but there is no gender inequality as such. Hence they share common life experiences and values. Production is communal and cooperative and the distribution system is based on sharing.
(vi) Depended on nature: The food gathers depended heavily on natural environment for this food supply. The collector has to depend on wild food like barriers, tubers etc. that they could collect from the plant kingdom. They also caught and gathered small creatures like caterpillars, grass hoppers, lizards, and rats for food.
(vii) Simple religious belief: Religion was not developed among their people into a complex institution. Their religion does not include belief in a powerful God who is active in human affairs. On the contrary they tend to see the world as populated by unseen spirits.
3. Write the difference between food gathering economy and food collecting economy.
Ans:
| Gathering economy | Food collecting economy |
| (i) Refers to an early stage of human livelihood where people gather wild plants, fruits, and roots. | (i) Refers to the broader act of collecting both plant-based and animal-based resources. |
| (ii) Gathering edible plants, roots, leaves, fruits, seeds. | (ii) Includes gathering, hunting, fishing, and insect collecting. |
| (iii) Simple tools like digging sticks or baskets. | (iii) May involve tools like bows, arrows, traps, baskets, and fishing nets. |
| (iv) Example : Collecting berries, roots, wild vegetables. | (iv) Example: Hunting deer, fishing, collecting honey and forest herbs. |
4. “Producing economy is superior to collecting economy” Discuss.
Ans: Yes, producing economy is considered superior to collecting economy because it brought major changes in the life of early humans. In the collecting economy, people lived by gathering wild fruits, roots, and hunting animals. They were nomadic and had to move from one place to another in search of food, which made their life uncertain and completely dependent on nature. However, with the beginning of the producing economy, people learned to grow crops and domesticate animals. This allowed them to settle in one place and lead a more stable life. They could store surplus food, which helped in times of need. Permanent settlements like villages began to develop, leading to the growth of trade, division of labour, and better social organization. Thus, the producing economy helped in the development of early civilizations and is considered more advanced and superior to the collecting economy.
5. Describe the different stages of Jhum Cultivation. Name some communities practices shifting cultivation.
Ans: Shifting cultivation is practiced in all the seven states of North-East India and is commonly known as Jhum cultivation. The shifting cultivators are called Jhumia.Shifting cultivation is also known as slash or burn cultivation. In this type of cultivation, a suitable plot of land on a hill slope is selected and the trees, bamboos and small shrubs and cut in the winter season and allowed to dry during the summer season. When dry, these are burnt and the ashes, scattered over the whole plot of land. With the onset of monsoon season, different types of vegetables, cereals are sown using the broadcasting method. Sometimes seeds of some vegetables are also sown by digging holes on the land by using a simple digging stick. Mixed cropping is a feature of shifting cultivation. Wedding is also done. When the produce is ripe, harvesting is done.
The stages of Jhum cultivation are:
(i) Selecting the forest patch or land.
(ii) Worshipping before cutting (rituals).
(iii) Cutting trees, bamboo, and shrubs.
(iv) Drying the cut vegetation.
(v) Collecting firewood and big logs.
(vi) Burning the dry vegetation.
(vii) Preparing the field for cultivation.
(viii) Sowing seeds with digging sticks or hoes.
(ix) Weeding the fields.
(x) Watching and protecting the crops from animals or pests.
(xi) Harvesting and storing the produce.
(xii) Worshipping for a good harvest.
(xiii) Celebrating (merry-making).
(xiv) Leaving the land fallow (fallowing) and shifting to a new patch.
6. “Shifting cultivation should be replaced by permanent cultivation”- Discuss with reasons.
Ans: Shifting cultivation should be replaced by permanent cultivation because it is an agricultural practice where land is cultivated temporarily and then abandoned, allowing natural vegetation to regrow. The cultivator shifts to a new plot when the soil becomes exhausted or is overtaken by weeds. Generally, the period of cultivation is shorter than the fallow period needed for the land to regenerate.
Although shifting cultivation was sustainable in the past, it has now become unsuitable due to increasing population pressure and environmental concerns. It leads to deforestation, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and declining soil fertility. Permanent cultivation, on the other hand, promotes better land management, higher productivity, and long-term sustainability.
Shifting cultivation is widely practiced in the seven northeastern states of India and is commonly known as Jhum cultivation. The cultivators are known as Jhumias. It is called by different names in various regions:
The Reangs of Tripura call it as Hichusisimoms, the Adis of Arunachal Pradesh call it as Adimdik. It is known as Lyngkhalum or Shytri among the Khasis, Bogma among the Garos of Meghalaya, Tekeonglu among the Ao Nagas of Nagaland and Inglong Arit among the Karbis of Assam. It also practiced in different parts of India and is known by different names such as Kurwa or Khalu in the Santhal Parganas, Bewara in Ranchi, Palamau in Bihar, Podu, Rema, Dahi, Kaman, Bringa, Gudia, Dongar Chas in Orissa, Penda, Dahiya, Bewar, Guharh, Farha, Dippa, Marhan or Erka in Madhya Pradesh and Kondapaddy in Andhra Pradesh.
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