anth 100 exam 3

as states grow into an empire they generally bring

colonialism

european expansion

into overseas colonies and territories, often exploiting resources and indigenous populations.

european capitalism was devastating to many societies since it

conceived of ownership in a completely new way; they just wanted to extract wealth from colonies

colonialism

a social system in which political conquest by one society over another leading to cultural domination with enforced social change

how was european colonialism different?

1. scale was huge and evolved

2. capitalism was involved

commodization

the process by which goods, services, and resources, take on economic value

members of non-european societies products and resources turned into

commodities

in a capitalist world,

everything can be converted into a commodity

when capitalist practices were imposed on non western societies,

indigenous life was forever altered

as the states extracted wealth, the colonies did not

prosper, they became poorer

globalization

is the process by which businesses and other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale, often impacting local cultures and economies.

globalization vs colonialism

Globalization refers to the worldwide interconnectedness of economies and cultures, while colonialism involves the domination of one nation over another, often exploiting resources and altering local practices.

dependency theory

dependent colonies continue to reshape their economic structures to meet demands generated outside of their borderswhich perpetuates inequality and limits their development.

the wealthiest nations create

underdevelopment in formerly prosperous areas

world systems theory

focuses more on the institutions of capitalism: banking, finance

sex

biological category based on reproductive organs

gender

socially constructed roles

biology is

“socially constructed”

culture reinforces and exaggerates

biology

enculturation

informal process by which we learn our culture

socialization

the formal instruction of culture

the family is the

basic social and economic unit

people organize their families in

different ways

consaguine

blood

fictive

neither marriage nor blood (social)

bilateral kinship

you are related to both your mother’s and father’s side

patrilineal

descent through the male line

matrilineal

descent through the female line

why is marriage universal?

1. it enables gendered division of labor

2. allows us to take care of our infants

3. creates role models for children to learn about gender roles and expectations

marriage is a

continuum

polygyny

one man marries several women

polyandry

one woman marries several men

incest taboo

restrictions against marrying “close” family, but close is defined differently

exogamy

only allowing marriages “outside” of the group

endogamy

only allowing marriages “inside” of the group

cross cousins

children of your mother’s brother or father’s sister

parallel cousins

children of your mother’s sister or father’s brother.

the goal of religion

“transform uncertainties of life into certainties”

religion can be found at points of our lives where there is great

uncertainty and risk

animism

the belief that all objects, places, and creatures possess a distinct spiritual essence.

monotheism

the belief in the existence of one god

polytheism

worship of many gods

religons also provide

-commonly shared fundamental beliefs

-commonly shared communal practices

-commonly shared psychological connection

religion vs politics

this combo provides a “moral foundation” for the workings of state

when was the first burial?

10,000 years ago in a cave in israel

which beliefs were the first religious beliefs?

animistic beliefs

physiological exercise

physically manipulating psychological states to induce a spiritual state through ecstasy, euphoria, dissociation, or hallucination. includes : drugs, chanting, singing

mana

a supernatural force or power believed to reside in people, objects, or the environment, often associated with spiritual strength. (touching a cross, laying on of the hands to treat an illness)

exhortation

people who are believed to have a closer relation to the supernatural and have to use their gifts to heal, comfort, threaten (popes)

taboo

objects or people that may not be touched or actions that cannot be done

magic

a set of beliefs and practices designed to control the visible or invisible world for specific purposes

magic is much more

formulaic than religion

magic is a specific act to

manipulate supernatural powers achieve a desired outcome.

two common types of magic

imitative magic and contagious magic

imitative magic

people will imitate a action in hopes of producing it (voodoo doll)

contagious magic

needs to be a physical link between the caster of the spell and the person who receives it

magic comes from

positive events

all cultures have

ritual specialists

priests

-full time

-serve large congregations

-common in chiefdoms and larger societies

shamans

healing

part-time specialists

communicate with spirit world through trancesand rituals. They often serve smaller, more localized groups and play a vital role in the spiritual and healing practices of their communities.

rituals

formal actions meant to interact with or effect the supernatural, many rituals are religiously based many are not

rites of passage

repetitive sets of symbolic activities

rites of passage define three critical features of our lives

1. who we are

2. how we should act

3. what responsibilities we will carry

rituals of transformation

state 1, seperation, isolation transformation, incorporation, state 2

changes in societies is seen as

dangerous

revitalization

the return to an “older” time

messiniac

the coming forth of a religious leader

millennial

end of an era

ghost dance

a spiritual movement among Native Americans that sought to restore traditional ways of life and foretell a coming era of peace and prosperity.

taqui ongoy

a revivalist movement in Peru during the 16th century that sought to restore indigenous culture and spirituality.

1978 jonestown massacre

a tragic event in which over 900 followers of Jim Jones died in a mass murder-suicide in Guyana.

What is enculturation?

Enculturation is the process through which individuals learn and adopt the cultural norms, values, languages, behaviors, and social practices of their society or group. This lifelong process begins in early childhood and is influenced by various factors including family, education, and media. Enculturation shapes a person's identity and worldview, providing a framework for understanding social interactions and cultural expectations.

“Liminality” is a term used in cultural anthropology to describe

the transitional phase during which individuals are outside their normal social roles, often marked by ambiguity and disorientation.