INTRODUCTION TO

ANTHROPOLOGY

What is Anthropology?

Anthropology is the broad study of humankind around the world and throughout time.

It is concerned with both the biological and the cultural aspects of humans. 

Branches of Anthropology

There are four main subdivisions (areas) in the study of Anthropology: Physical Anthropology Cultural Anthropology Archeology Linguistic Anthropology

We will focus on the following in this course…

Theory of Evolution Origin of Humans Primatology Evolutionary Timeline Genetic Inheritance Physical Adaptations Anthropologists:

Darwin Leakey's

Definition and Aspects of Culture

Race as a Social Construct Race and Adaptation Participation/Observation Anthropologists:

Jane Goodall Franz Boas Margaret Mead

Physical Anthropology: Cultural Anthropology:

Main Concepts in Physical Anthropology

Biological

Attempts to understand and define the physical or biological nature of human beings in comparison to other species (similarities and differences)

Follows human physical evolution from beginning to modern day human beings

Uses fossils, bones and other human remains to study human evolution

How the human species has changed physically over time (hundreds of millions of years) – called Biological Evolution

Study of Primatology – primates (apes, chimps as ancestors of humans)

Why we have certain physical characteristics from our ancestors (i.e. skin colour…) - called Genetic Inheritance

Evolution refers to change or transformation over time - how have humans changed and adapted to their environment over time – called Adaptation

Fossil record of human evolution

Main Concepts in Physical Anthropology

Archeology

Prehistory and early history of cultures around the world

Major trends in cultural evolution

Techniques for finding, excavating, dating, and analyzing material remains of past societies – used to help prove theories, i.e. evolution, artifacts…

Archaeological Field Methods:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m9wq_mtY4Q

Main Concepts in Cultural Anthropology

Behavioural The study of human beings in different

cultural settings around the world Includes comparisons of human cultures

to the cultures of other species ie.) Chimps

Culture includes learned behaviours, beliefs, attitudes, values, rituals, spirituality and societal ideals

Linguistic Anthropology:

The human communication process

Verbal and nonverbal communication

The structure, function, and history of languages

Linguistic Anthropology

Linguistics studies:

The human communication process

Verbal and nonverbal communication

The structure, function, and history of languages

Linguistic Anthropology: Communication

Communication allows us to express feelings, describe tasks, argue or discuss a position or ideas

Communication was an essential skill for our ancestors Co-operation during the hunt Warning of potential danger

Research Methods Used by Anthropologists:

Participation-observation Collection of statistics Field interviews Rigorous compilation of detailed notes Fieldwork on anthropologists is know as

“ethnography”: the scientific study of human races and cultures

EXAMPLES OF FAMOUS ANTHROPOLOGISTS

Louis and Mary Leakey

Credited with discovering physical evidence to support the evolutionary timeline

Primarily studied biological anthropology, largely focusing on fossil records and found tools.

Much of their discoveries were throughout Africa

Short Biography:http://www.leakey.com/origins

Louise Leaky ‘Who Are We?” TED Talk (grand-daughter of Louis and Mary):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-TGxJI4JwA

Jane GoodallBorn: 3 April 1934, Birthplace: London, England, Died: n/a

Worked directly with the Leaky family Her specialty was living with and

understanding the language and behaviour of chimps

Her famous work is an example of the participation/observation method

View the short interview with Jane Goodall: http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5Q6-hh49mU

Documentary: Wild Chimpanzees

Franz Boas Born: 9-Jul-1858, Birthplace: Minden, Germany, Died: 22-Dec-1942

Studied and widely collected information on race, linguistics, art, dance, and archaeology.

From these studies he developed his theory of relativism, debunking the prevailing beliefs that Western Civilization is superior to less complex societies.

Short Biography: http://www.biography.com/people/

franz-boas-9216786

Cultural Relativism

Cultural relativism is the view that all beliefs, customs, and ethics are relative to the individual within his own social context. In other words, “right” and “wrong” are culture-specific; what

is considered moral in one society may be considered immoral in another, and, since no universal standard of morality exists, no one has the right to judge another society’s customs.

All cultures are equally legitimate expressions of human existence, to be studied from a purely neutral perspective.

Ethnocentrism: comparing other cultures to your own, believing that one’s

own culture is superior to others based on lack of knowledge and understanding leads to stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination

Margaret MeadBorn: December 16, 1901 , Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Died: November 15, 1978

Proposed that culture and gender roles play just as strong a role as biology in influencing adolescent behavior—

Short Biography: http://

www.biography.com/people/margaret-mead-9404056

Much of her research was completed via participation/observation in Samoa and New Guinea published Coming of Age in Samoa

presented the idea that the individual experience of developmental stages could be shaped by cultural demands and expectations

published Growing Up in New Guinea she demonstrated that gender roles differed from

one society to another, depending at least as much on culture as on biology