ANTH 205 Exam 1 Study Guide Chapter 1 Introduction to Anthropology What is anthropology The systematic study of humankind combination of 4 subfields that bridge natural sciences social sciences and humanities The Four Field Approach 1 Physical Anthropology a Branch concerned with humans as biological species b Conduct research in 2 major areas human evolution and modern human variation c Paleoanthropology uses scientific methods to date classify and compare fossil bones to determine links between modern humans and their biological ancestors d Modern Human Variation Study and identification of human remains in forensics i Study past present genetics human environment adaptation design and architecture e Includes human anatomy primatology popular genetics forensics anthropology etc 2 Archeology a Branch that examines material traces of past societies and informs us about their culture b Utilizes the study of artifacts c Includes prehistoric anthropology biblical archeology demographics etc 3 Linguistic Anthropology a Focus on relationship between language and culture how language is used within society and how the human brain acquires and uses language b Structural Linguistics How does language work and do similar languages correlate to similar thought patterns c Socio Linguistics How language used to define social groups d Historical Linguistics Concentrates on comparison and classification of different languages to discern historical links e Includes all types of linguistics as described above pragmatics phonology morphology etc 4 Cultural Anthropology a Examines various contemporary societies and cultures from around the world b Participant Observation Technique used in order to learn language and culture of group being studied by participating in daily activities over long period of time c Ethnography vs Ethnology i Ethnography The way results are written writing about group of people ii Ethnology Takes more than one ethnography and compares them for links d Includes social anthropology legal anthropology demographic anthropology economic anthropology ethno poetics etc What is applied anthropology It uses anthropological data from the other subfields to address modern problems and concerns which may be environmental technological economic social political and cultural What are the main cornerstones of anthropological thought Holistic Approach broad comprehensive method that draws on all 4 subfields to answer research questions Interdisciplinary Research Using techniques borrowed from other fields to solve research dilemmas Global Perspective Enables anthropologists to consider biological psychological economic historical social and cultural conditions of all humans at all times and in all places What are the 2 main methods in anthropology Scientific Approach allows to make claims about knowledge and verify claims w systematic logical reasoning testability and verifiability Humanistic Approach used to interpret practices and institutions to outsiders explain understand significance of cultural phenomenon What is ethnocentrism It s the practice of judging another society by values standards of one s own society It s the deeply engrained preference for your own culture a sense of normalcy Chapter 2 Human Evolution What is the Judeo Christian myth and how has it shaped Western thought The Judeo Christian myth was the whole idea of Adam and Eve It was shaped Western thought through the notion of gender roles Primates in chronological order 1 Ponginae 2 Homininae a Bipedalism Not characteristic of modern apes 3 Peirolapthecus catalauricus 4 Ardipithecus ramidus a Ape like dention but human body only head like ape 5 Australopitheus afarensis a Skull resembles modern chimpanzee b Below neck spine pelvis hip etc make her bipedal c Used both walking climbing 6 Robust australophiteenes a Not like us in appearance 7 Genus homo species a 2 species Homo rudolfensis and Homo habilis habilis handy b Bipedal and ape like in denture looked more like humans 8 Homo erectus a Definitely human below the neck b Low sloping forehead and massive jaws with large teeth c Powerful musculature d Extensive migration i could make clothes due to migration because had to adapt to temperatures e Use and control of fire f Used auchelian technology i More complex technology ii Made them effective hunters Archaic Homo sapiens vs Neanderthals 9 Archaic Homo sapiens Were Neanderthals Short powerfully built Hands feet wider and thicker than modern humans Skull face broad with large jaw Used Mousterian traditional tools Cutting leather working piercing hunting and weapon production 10 Neanderthals First hominids to burry people Cared for individuals with disabilities 11 Upper paleolithic a Used composite tools made blades were efficient hunters b First to populate America c Plant gatherers and had expressive elements d Beginning of variation in technologies 12 Cro magnon culture a Elaborate technology b Used fire for cooking heat c Elaborate art bone ivory and stone sculptures d Migrated from season to season e Reindeer camps and winter settlement Light Skin vs Dark Skin Light skin was an efficient mean for Vitamin D absorption in place where significant sunlight scarcity Dark skin absorbed more sunlight which was harmful dark skin could aid in preserving Vitamin D Chapter 3 Culture What are the 3 main characteristics of culture Transmitted human universal shared and learned What is one type of learning Meta mind o Usually adopted around 3 4 years of age o No animals have this far shown evidence of meta mind o It is thought to have developed with Homo erectus Culture being shared Culture consists of shared practices understanding within a society but not equally shared by everybody It is more easily retained than others some beliefs Normative vs Behavioral Culture Normative What people say they do Behavioral What they actually do Overt vs Covert Culture Overt Culture people know they have Covert Culture people do not know they have 7 Aspects of Culture 1 Extra Organic a Variety of culture you get does not depend upon your genes b Your capacity of culture is inorganic 2 Continuous a Continuity of culture from one generation to the next 3 Cumulative a Particularly among human culture grows in complexity with time 4 Symbolic most but not all a Many aspects of culture are arbitrary to an outside perspective b Culture can be learned transmitted symbolically 5 Variable a Humans are polytypical species b Many different