semisedentary society

Semisedentary societies are characterized by a lifestyle where people live in one place for most of the year but are more mobile than fully sedentary societies. They practice shifting agriculture and maintain sizable settlements that may move periodically. Unlike sedentary societies, they typically lack permanent local political units, strong rulers, or tax systems. Social distinctions are primarily based on gender and age, and the household is the most strongly defined social unit. In these societies, men typically hunt and clear fields, while women perform the majority of agricultural work. Warfare is highly developed, and semisedentary peoples often possess effective weapons and are adept at defending themselves in challenging environments.1