Which society relies on settled areas conducive for growing edible crops and vegetables?

Horticultural societies are characterized by their reliance on settled areas where they cultivate crops and vegetables through methods of small-scale farming. Unlike nomadic foraging societies, which depend on the collection of wild plants and hunting animals, horticultural societies establish permanent or semi-permanent settlements that allow them to raise domestic plants. This form of subsistence involves the use of simple tools to till the land and manage gardens, often enhancing community organization and allowing for more complex social structures.

While agricultural societies also focus on growing crops, they typically involve more intensive farming practices, including the use of plows and irrigation, and support larger populations through commercial agriculture. Therefore, the distinguishing feature of horticultural societies is their smaller scale and the use of shifting cultivation or subsistence farming, making this the correct answer for the given question about societies that grow edible crops and vegetables.