UNIT 2 HISTORICAL GLOBALIZATION Main Issue: To what extent should contemporary society respond to the legacies of historical globalization?

CULTURAL SENSITIVITY OF HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS ANTHROPOLOGY Greek root words meaning “human study” The study of human cultural practices and ways of life Interpret and explain other cultures. Anthropologists do not belong to the culture they are studying

PITFALLS OF ANTHROPOLOGY JUDGING CULTURES Cultural Superiorty Using our superior standards to judge other cultures because whatever we do is always better Cultural Relativism Believing that no culture’s practices are better or worse than another culture’s practices Everything is relative Only those values held by the culture can be used to judge behavior in that culture

INTERPRETING CULTURES Ethnocentrism Inappropriately applying our concepts and beliefs to explain another group’s practices Interpreting other cultural concepts through our own cultural lens Radical Uniqueness No culture’s concepts and beliefs can explain another culture’s practices Understanding of other cultures is impossible because each cultural is unique

GENERALIZING ABOUT CULTURAL PRACTICES _stereotyping People within a culture are generally alike There are universal, easily recognizable traits within a culture Radical Individualism Each culture is so diverse/complex that no generalizations are possible All statements about culture are limited to the individual person/event.

THE SOLUTION? Cross-Cultural Sensitivity Recognizes cultural differences Aware of dangers of judging/interpreting/generalizing about a culture using values from outside a culture Careful to make judgments/interpretations only when those values are fairly applied to culture Careful to make qualified generalizations based on adequate evidence.

AMAZONS UNCONTACTED TRIBE

TO WHAT EXTENT DOES CULTURAL CONTACT AFFECT PEOPLE?

CULTURAL CONTACT Different cultures have different values, beliefs and traditions that influence their thoughts and actions  The arrival of European explorer’s in the America’s in the 15 th century launched a series of cultural contacts

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES Were part of a complex network of independent nations living across the Americas Spoke many different languages Many different forms of governance Variety of spiritual beliefs Established long-standing alliances and rivalries

CONTACT IN THE AMERICA'S Powerful nations in Europe were competing for economic and military supremacy. To prove their worth, they began to expand beyond their horizons. They claimed ownership of these lands for their monarchs. GOAL= to spread the Christian faith and European values in these new lands

EFFECTS OF CULTURAL CONTACT Economic, political and social spheres of one or both groups Conflict Disease Loss of resources depopulation Cultural change of culture Assimilation