Introduction to Anthropology HSP 3 C Ms Maharaj

Introduction to Anthropology HSP 3 C Ms. Maharaj

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.

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

Physical Anthropology: Cultural Anthropology: Theory of Evolution Origin of Humans Primatology Evolutionary Timeline Genetic Inheritance Physical Adaptations Anthropologists: Definition and Aspects of Culture Darwin Franz Boas Leakey's Margaret Mead Race as a Social Construct Race and Adaptation Participation/Observation Anthropologists: Jane Goodall

Physical Anthropology: • 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 over time – called Adaptation • Fossil record of human evolution

Archaeology: • Prehistory and early history of cultures around the world • Major trends in cultural evolution- how have people and cultures changed over time in terms of their traditions and practices Techniques for finding, excavating, dating, and analyzing material remains of past societies – used to help prove theories, i. e. evolution, artifacts… Video: Top 10 Archaeological Discoveries

Cultural Anthropology: • Culture and traditions of a group of people • 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

Linguistic Anthropology: • 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

Skills and 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

1. 2. 3. 4. Louis, Mary Leaky Jane Goodall Franz Boaz Margaret Mead Famous Anthropologists

LOUIS AND MARY LEAKEY • Credited with discovering physical evidence to support the evolutionary timeline • Through their discoveries, they concluded that we SHARE ONE COMMONE ANCESTOR! • Much of their discoveries were throughout Africa • This makes a lot of sense, since in recent years, anthropologists have tested DNA and found that we all HAVE originated in Africa Optional-Short Biography: http: //www. leakey. com/origins

JANE GOODALL BORN: 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 Jane Goodall Clip: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=c. IDi 35 a 3 b 4 c

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. Optional Info-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. • Cultural relativists believe that all cultures are worthy in their own right and are of equal value. Today’s anthropologist considers all cultures to be equally legitimate expressions of human existence, to be studied from a purely neutral perspective. •

MARGARET MEAD BORN: 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— Optional 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