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How Does Human Ecology Shape the Main Patterns of (a) Society and (B) Culture (Using Keesing’s Distinction Between ‘Society’ and ‘Culture’) Among Three Kinds of Ecological Adaptation in the Tribal World: Hunter-

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Culture is seen as a system of shared beliefs and meanings. On the other hand society is composed of members who typically share a common culture or, at least, a recognised set of values, symbolism and other interactions such as social structure that defines the society's members.

Modern day hunter gatherers have adapted to geographical regions which have shaped their way of everyday life, social structure and organisation. The San of south Africa, as a result of their permanent settlement and geographic region, requires the males (because of their physical attributes) to travel and hunt for game, a rare source of nutrition which is normally eaten on special occasions. Women hold a more important role within a band as they are …show more content…

In the case of the San, territory is shared within the band and if one leaves he/she still has the right to a share of the land. This “shared” concept translates into equality between male and female hunter gatherers.

Although different tribes of hunter gatherers are widely dispersed throughout the world they share a common belief. Since they depend on the earth, animals and weather to sustain their lives they have become one and mystified with nature.

The tropical rain-forests that horticulturalists inhabit are tough environments for cultivation due to the uproar of trees and little sunshine penetrating them. Horticulturalists have adapted to this ecological restraint buy deforesting, cultivating the land, burning it, leaving it to fallow then move onto a new piece of land this is known as swidden cultivation. Unlike their hunter gather cousins, horticulturalist families must own more land than needed to be able to cultivate one garden and harvest another. Owning more land means being able to own more surplus of wild pigs, as with the Maring case, which reflects a man’s capital. Having more than one wife and children contributes to the labour of the gardens and is therefore beneficial to the man. (reflecting gender inequality).

The Maring, even though they are divided into subgroups, share ideas and common beliefs during and after warfare. When one side is victorious, the defeated group’s territory is destroyed along with it’s

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