What did it mean to people to have food from farming as well as hunting?

Answer 1

In simple terms farming provided lots more food for a lot less work. This increased the population of humanity that the world could sustain.

Farming was started accidentally by gathering. When food and berries were eaten, the waste would always be thrown away in the same field by some tribes. When they returned to the site the next year they found their waste had grown into plants- since the gatherer had subconciously selected the best fruits the best food eventually came to be found in these fields (especially if the same field was also the cat-holes or latrines site). Farming was born- as a pleasant surprise to those who discovered it rather than an ingenious invention.

Answer 2

First off, farming is a lot less dangerous than hunting. Very unlikely a carrot will turn on you and injure or kill you -- and most prey animals have (often quite efficient) ways to protect themselves (also you're in competition with other predators, who might decide that your kill - or you - look tasty).

It's also less dangerous than gathering (as in, "hunter/gatherer"). If you propagate plants you know you can eat, you get to miss out on the ailments (everything from nausea to death) that come with experimenting with whatever you find growing in the bushes.

Also, "farming" includes both plants and animals - think chickens, sheep, etc. Having protein sources we didn't have to chase down allowed our ancestors to work on stuff like houses that keep out the weather and written language.

This also means we had more reliable sources of clothing to protect us from the elements (from hides, wool, hair). Thanks to whoever domesticated the sheep, we now have the wool sweater (and weaving, knitting and other fabric arts - which might never have come along if it weren't for that steady supply of materials).

Domesticating the dog gave us a sentry/livestock manager/cleaning service (eating scraps). We took advantage of the wolf's natural behaviors to create a canine who would, with training, help us guide our animals from a secure site (pen) to the best available grazing - stronger, healthier, more prolific livestock.

Farming made our diet more reliable. While farming is still chancy (owing to the weather, for one thing), food from plants you nurture (and animals) is a more steady supply than a diet of "What I Was Able To Find and Catch."

Answer 3

hunter/gatherers had to constantly be on the move to follow prey. farming gave stability and better nutrition to small groups of early people. made society possible.

Answer 4

I meant that they would have food on the table.

Answer 5

A well balanced diet.

Answer 6

no work, live off nature. way to go.......................no worry about where your next $ is coming from.