The first type of society to generate a material surplus is:
A) hunting and gathering.
B) horticultural and pastoral.
C) agrarian.
D) industrial.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Horticultural and pastoral societies were the first types of societies to generate a material surplus because they utilized simple agricultural techniques (such as digging sticks and basic irrigation) to cultivate crops and domesticated animals for food production. This allowed for an increase in productivity and a surplus of goods beyond what was needed for subsistence. Hunting and gathering societies did not generate a material surplus because they relied on the resources available in their surrounding environment and could not create a surplus beyond what was immediately needed for survival. Agrarian societies and later industrial societies built upon the surplus generated by horticultural and pastoral societies.

The First Type of Society to Generate a Material Surplus