9/3/2013Scope of Anthropology and Cultural Anthropology (Chapter 1)1. Physical/Biological Anthropology - links to natural and medicinal sciencesa. Physical evolution of the human species human evolutioni. decades of research of past species and how they evolved into nowii. uncover skeleton remains from past to learn what is necessary for culture to appear and physical evolution to take placeiii. Why does culture start in Africa (Kenya & Tanzania)b. Role of Biology/genetic make-up in culture and human behaviori. what kinds of changes in the human body for the appearance of culture1. ability to talk2. forge tools3. thumbs4. brain development5. development of teethii. once culture appeared, how did it influence the people to make the society whoit is now1. diet, food, dev. of teeth2. Archeologya. Appearance/disappearance of societiesi. What were societies like?ii. What did they eat?iii. Why do societies form at a particular place and time period?iv. What can this tell us about prospects of the future?v. What kind of mistakes were made in the past?vi.Why do some societies last and some do not?b. Social/Societal Evolutioni. everyone equal to each other (same economic/social standing)ii. small, mobile, egalitarian --> larger, ecological/demographically more complex,qualities of different kinds pronounced as a result from egalitarianism, tech/ecocomplex, hierarchal society and unequal3. Linguistic Anthropologya. How and why do languages change through time?i. What makes languages disappear or appear?ii. How do languages change over time?iii. Characteristics of societiesiv. Economical, social, and political points of the societies9/3/2013b. What can we learn about culture through the study of language?i. interested in learning how members communicate in nonverbal ways1. sign language2. body language3. energy level4. facial expressions5. greetings4. Cultural Anthropologya. What ties together these different fields?i. emphasis on cultureii. Anthropology as a “holistic” discipline1. understanding all aspects of a culture before understanding anthropologya. example: gender relations and religionb. The scope of cultural anthropologyi. Cultural diversityii. Cultural similarities despite differences1. How and why is it that other societies think and behave differently than we do?2. Why infanticide is accepted in some places, but not in others?3. Why incest is tolerated in some places, but not in others?4. What makes all of us human and worthy of respect, despite our
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