Anth1210 Midterm 1 Study Guide

1. Introduction to Anthropology

  • Definition: The study of humans, focusing on contemporary peoples and cultures outside North America, as well as human culture and biology (past and present) within North America.

  • Big-Picture Questions:

    • What makes us human?

    • How have humans evolved?

    • How are certain traits adaptive?

2. Main Subfields of Anthropology

  • Cultural Anthropology:

    • Focuses on cultures of the present and recent past.

    • Uses ethnographic research and participant observation to describe and interpret people's lifeways.

    • Ethnography: A written description of a culture based on field research.

  • Linguistic Anthropology:

    • Studies human languages, including classifying languages, examining structural changes over time, and understanding their influence on culture.

  • Archaeology:

    • Examines human history and prehistory through material remains (artifacts and archaeological sites).

  • Biological Anthropology:

    • Focuses on human biology, evolution, contemporary biological variation, and skeletal biology.

    • Sub-fields and Applications:

    • Primatology: Studies non-human primates to better understand human evolution and behavior.

    • Paleoanthropology: Focuses on early human biology and evolution.

    • Forensic Anthropology: Applies anthropological methods to legal contexts, primarily analyzing human skeletal remains.

  • Applied Anthropology:

    • Involves the practical application of anthropological knowledge in business, government, and public policy.

    • Cultural Resource Management (CRM): A specialized field in applied anthropology focused on managing and preserving cultural heritage.

3. Analytical Perspectives and Methods

  • Holistic Perspective: Views all aspects of human biology and culture as interrelated, emphasizing multiple connections between components.

  • Evolutionary Perspective: Considers biological and cultural traits in the context of long-term evolutionary changes.

  • Qualitative Approach: Emphasizes descriptive research to gain deeper meaning and insight into human societies.

  • Fieldwork & Participant Observation:

    • Fieldwork: Essential for gathering original primary data regarding cultures and biological processes.

    • Participant Observation: Research method where the anthropologist immerses themselves directly in the community being studied.

4. Historical Context and Development

  • Early Perspectives & Precursors:

    • Early speculation on cultural evolution took place in Ancient China, Greece, and Rome.

    • Nabonidus: Recognized as the first archaeologist due to his deliberate quest to connect with and investigate the ancient past.

    • In later historical periods, religious doctrine (with the Christian Bible as the central source of knowledge) largely superseded philosophical speculation.

  • Emergence of Modern Anthropology:

    • Anthropology developed into a distinct discipline in 19th-century (1800s) Europe, motivated by interest in global cultural diversity and archaeological discoveries.

  • Unilinear Cultural Evolution:

    • Lewis Henry Morgan: Formulated the unilinear theory of cultural evolution, postulating that all societies pass through standard stages from savagery to civilization.

    • Classification Criteria: Categorized societies based on subsistence strategies and technological benchmarks (such as pottery making).

    • Discreditation: The theory was eventually rejected as anthropologists established that human groups adapt to their environments through diverse, non-linear pathways.