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Understanding Anthropology: The Study of Humanity Across Cultures and Time

Anthropology is the comprehensive scientific study of human biology and culture, derived from the Greek terms meaning "human being" and "study of." It encompasses a holistic approach that examines both biological and cultural aspects of humanity throughout time and across the globe. Anthropology includes four main fields: Biological, Cultural, Linguistic, and Archaeological anthropology. Each field explores different dimensions of human life, from evolutionary origins and social structures to communication and ancient cultures, offering insights into our species' development and diversity.

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Understanding Anthropology: The Study of Humanity Across Cultures and Time

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  1. What is Anthropology? Go here and read this Go here and read this http://anthro.palomar.edu/intro/overview.htm http://anthro.palomar.edu/intro/fields.htm

  2. the word anthropology comes from the Greek anthro, meaning human being and ology, meaning study of • anthropology is a broad scientific study of human biology and culture

  3. Unifying Concepts of Anthropology • human universalism • holistic approach--learn about both the biological and cultural aspects of humanity around the globe and throughout time  • all people today are fully and equally human  • people from all societies of the world are equally intelligent, complex, and interesting to study

  4. integration • all aspects of a culture are interrelated • try to understand how cultures or institutions impact, and are in turn impacted, by other institutions • human biological traits do not evolve and function in isolation • an analysis of a culture must be done holistically

  5. adaptation • Homo sapiens sapienshave been able to successfully colonize most environments on our planet • the ability to acquire knowledge and create technology to adapt to new environments

  6. culture • the full range of learned behavior patterns and knowledge acquired by people as members of a society • learn from our parents and other people who are around us as we grow up • what sets our species apart from most, if not all, others is our heavy reliance and even dependence on culture for survival • the last 2.4 million years has allowed us to transform ourselves from scavengers of plants and animal carcasses left by large carnivores to a trulyglobalspecies capable of controlling the fate of all other species

  7. Four Main Fields of Anthropology http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUGiSXXdse0&feature=player_embedded#!

  8. Biological (or physical) anthropology • want to learn how our ancestors changed through time to become what we are today • interested in human biological origins, genetic inheritance, evolution, and variation • three different areas of research • Human biology • learn about human diversity, genetic inheritance patterns, Homo sapiens • Primatologists • carry out non-human primate studies • done in a natural setting among wild apes, monkeys • Paleoanthropologists • recover the fossil record of early humans and their primate ancestors in order to understand the path of our evolution 

  9. Cultural (or socio-cultural) anthropologists (sometimes called ethnology) • examine social patterns and practices across cultures, how people live in particular places, organize, govern, and create meaning • attention to race, sexuality, class, gender, and nationality • research is participant observation which involves placing oneself in the research context for extended periods of time to gain a first-hand info.

  10. Linguistic anthropology • study the human communication process • predisposes us to see the environment in specific ways. • are languages filters for reality? • for instance, if a language does not have a word for the color orange, can its speakers distinguish orange from red and yellow…

  11. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdzmH3jNkU0 • Archaeology • interested in recovering the prehistory and early history of societies and their cultures • the analysis of remains, such as artifacts, architecture, and landscapes • uncover the evidence by excavating, dating, and analyzing the material remains left by people in the past

  12. Application of Anthropological Knowledge and Methods • most carry out research and teach about what they have learned.  • employed by universities, colleges, and museums • a third of all anthropologists are applied anthropologists • U.S. military and NATO • mediators in major corporations • forensic anthropologists employed by police and the courts • medical anthropologists • ethnobotanists concentrate on finding new potential medicines

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