ANTH 1006 1st Edition Lecture 1 Outline of Last Lecture N A First class Outline of Current Lecture What is Anthropology I What is Anthropology II Origins of Anthropology III Human Species IV Human Ancestors V Primates VI Space Adaptations VII 4 Types of Anthropology a Sociocultural Cultural b Physical Biological c Linguistic d Archaeological VIII Applied Anthropology Current Lecture What is Anthropology I What is Anthropology Anthropology is the study of the human species and its immediate ancestors across time and space and how we evolved Anthropology is the holistic and comparative study of humanity Including culture biology society and language It is the systematic exploration of human biological and cultural diversity It is a comparative field that examines all cultures and offers a cross cultural perspective Has two dimensions academic and applied These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute II Origins of Anthropology Anthropology originated in North America in the 19th Century Early Americans were concerned about the language and culture of the Native Americans disappearing and wanted to document it They were also curious about their diversity and how Native Americans originated Anthropology is different from sociology because initially sociologists focused on the industrial West and anthropology focused on non industrial societies Sociology and Anthropology share an interest in social relations organizations and behavior III Human Species In the past there were more than 1 human species living at the same time as recently as 15 000 30 000 years ago Homosapiens Human species living today Other species of humans tell us how we came to be IV Human Ancestors We share common ancestors with past humans Example Neanderthals and us share DNA so they are not a separate species Homosapiens and Neanderthals share common ancestors o East Africa Homo reputs a species first emerge out of Africa and populated the world 60 000 years ago Theory is that everything began in Africa Primates We did NOT evolve from apes Apes and humans share a common ancestor and share DNA We share communication abilities and ability to use tools with apes Only humans develop culture and walk upright V VI Space Adaptations Humans are very adaptable People adapt and develop traits based on where they live This is the process by which organisms cope with environmental stresses Melanin Near the equator you don t need as much vitamin D as in the North per se thus humans have varying degrees on melanin in their skin based on where they live Sickle Cell Anemia In Africa sickle cell anemia helps fight malaria this is a trait that people living in North America most likely would not have Lung Size People living at higher altitudes have less oxygen therefore they develop larger lungs than someone who receives more oxygen People born at high altitudes live better there than people who are from lower altitudes Inventions Inventions such as technology and food production have helped people adapt VII 4 Types of Anthropology Each of the fields considers variations in time and in geographic space Cultural Sociocultural o Study of human society and culture of present and recent past o Record lifestyles of different people without cultural bias o Ethnography fieldwork in a particular cultural setting Ethnology examines ethnography o Ethnocentrism Bias that your way of life is right and the others are wrong Anthropologists have to work against thinking this way in order to collect information effectively Physical Biological o Study biological characteristics o Look at human remains 5 Subfields Evolution Genetics Growth Biological Adaptability and Primatology study of primates Linguistic o Study of language diversity in time space and society o Study the evolution of language how it changes when where o Study the relationships between languages and people o Relate ancient and modern language Archaeology o Reconstruct past societies and behaviors by material remains o Remains are excavated VIII Applied Anthropology Uses theory to relate to the real world and solve contemporary problems Also called public anthropology Example Medical Anthropology Ebola Outbreak Ebola Outbreak Many people were catching Ebola from being in close proximity to the dead who were killed by Ebola It was a part of their culture to touch their dead a lot Doctors could not just go in and tell them to abandon their culture This is why Anthropology is needed to understand people and to help them