What type of societies involve people planting seeds and crops rather than subsisting solely on available foods?

Horticultural societies are characterized by the practice of cultivating plants and growing crops through small-scale farming. This agricultural method often includes the use of hand tools for raising fruits and vegetables, allowing communities to settle in one area and develop a more stable food supply. These societies typically engage in cultivation of land through gardening techniques, which distinguishes them from foraging societies that only gather naturally available resources.

In studying sociological development, horticultural societies represent a significant transition from nomadic lifestyles, as they allow individuals to invest time in planting and harvesting, leading to the establishment of more complex social structures. This shift not only impacts economic practices but also influences social organization and community bonds, as people are more likely to live in permanent or semi-permanent settlements.

Industrial societies, on the other hand, rely on advanced technological processes and mass production techniques, which are far removed from the small-scale planting inherent in horticultural practices. Pastoral societies focus on the domestication and herding of animals, rather than the cultivation of plants, emphasizing livestock over crop growth. Nomadic societies do not settle permanently but move frequently in search of resources, aligning more with hunting, gathering, or herding than with farming practices.

Thus, horticultural societies appropriately answer the question as