1. Introduction to Anthropology
Unit 1
Introduction to Anthropology

2. What is anthropology? Anthros=man, human Logos=study of
Discipline of infinite curiosity about human beings
Comparing humans from all areas and all time periods
Tends to be a focus on non-Western cultures

3. Holistic approach to anthropology—we study all aspects of humanity
Forms of study:
Physical anthropology—study of humans and their evolution and biological variations between populations
Archaeology—study of prehistoric populations and cultures through material remains (bones, tools, etc.)
Linguistics—study of language
Cultural anthropology—study of cultural variation and universals (religion, economics, social order, sex, art, etc.)

4. Culture—set of learned values, behaviors, and beliefs that are characteristic of a particular society
Cultural relativism
Ethnocentrism
Often referred to as a hatred/fear of other cultures (XENOPHOBIA)

5. Noteworthy Anthropologists
Franz Boas ( ) German-American
Father of American Anthropology
Famous for applying scientific method to cultural studies
Studied the Inuits in Canada
Appealed to all anthropologists to not treat studied cultures with a bias/disdain
Jane Goodall (1934-) English primatologist
Has led study of chimpanzee social and family life for last 45 years in Africa
Advocate for chimpanzees and environment
Discovered tool-making abilities in chimpanzees
Margaret Mead ( ) American
Studied problems adolescents in US face by living with and studying Samoans
Does our civilization cause adolescent angst or is it natural across culture?
She concluded that transition from childhood to adulthood lacks the emotional or psychological distress our teenagers face

6. Noteworthy Anthropologists
Charles Darwin ( ) English naturalist
Created natural selection
Mary ( ) & Louis Leakey ( ) English archeologists
Followed by son Richard
She discovered “Laetoli footprints” in Tanzania
Pushed hard in research to prove Darwin’s theories correct
Both studied and found evidence of human evolution
Bronislaw Malinowski ( ) Polish
Studied reciprocity and Melanesia (Papua New Guinea)
Began use of direct study of day-to-day research instead of simply interviewing subjects or use of limited contact—live amongst the subjects
Goal of anthropologists should be “to grasp the native’s point of view, his relation to life, to realize his vision of his world.”

7. Some assumptions about culture
Culture is adaptive—New Guinea tribes often view women as unclean—they need to adapt or go extinct
Maladaptive behavior
Adaptive behavior
Tropical cultures often have a post-partum sex taboo

8. More assumptions How would a post-partum sex taboo affect us?
Culture is integrated into a society—traits of a culture are not just thrown into a society; it’s there for a reason
This means we cannot just think of things from other cultures we could apply to us.
How would a post-partum sex taboo affect us?

9. 3rd assumption Culture is always changing
Change in environment can cause a change in culture
EX: global warming—how will that change our culture?

10. Evolution v. Creationism
Evolution—change in the gene pool of a population from generation to generation
Charles Darwin—rejected belief that all creatures were created independently
Published The Origin of Species in 1859
Detailed findings from research during the 1830s during a long sailing voyage on The Beagle—most notable was his studies of the finch on the Golapagos Islands off Ecuador
Finches had characteristics depending on the island they were on

11. Natural Selection —Darwin’s belief that the genes of strong individuals will be passed on more often than the genes of weaker individuals (Survival of the Fittest)
Adaptation—ongoing natural selection as populations change in response to environmental changes
Speciation
Mutation

12. Human Evolution

13. Specific Human Ancestors
A. Afarensis (Lucy)—3-4 million years ago
Eastern Africa (Ethiopia)
Small brain
Long arms—good climber
Bipedal
Lived in small social groups with one dominant male and several breeding females

14. 9 minutes

15. Specific Human Ancestors (cont.)
A. Africanus—2-3 million years ago
Southern Africa
Larger head=larger brain
More human-like facial features
Ape-like curved fingers

16. Specific Human Ancestors (cont.)
Homo Habilis (“handy man”)— million years ago
Eastern Africa (Tanzania)
Very short and very long arms
Brains were half the size of modern humans
Remains found with tools
Human-like face with smaller teeth

17. Specific Human Ancestors (cont.)
Homo Neanderthalensis—30,000 years ago
Europe and Western Asia
Stone tool users (axes & spears)
Did not discover fire, but harnessed it
Adapted to colder climates (shorter but bulky bodies and larger noses)
Men were about 5 ½ feet
Suffered from sever arthritis
Could create sounds and differentiate between vocal sounds (language?)
Performed some sort of ritualistic burial ceremonies
Some evidence that cannibalism may have occurred

18. Neanderthal--50 minutes

19. Specific Human Ancestors (cont.)
Homo Erectus (“upright man”)—30, million years ago
Eastern Africa, Europe & Asia
Believed to be the first hominid to have left Africa
Brain size = 75% size of our brains
Less sloped forehead and smaller teeth
Males averaged 5’10” tall
Used mostly advanced stone tools (i.e. double edged axe)
Hunter-gatherer society

20. Specific Human Ancestors (cont.)
Homo Sapiens (Modern Man)—200,000 years ago
Cro-Magnon man—Europe, Middle East, Asia, Africa
Anatomically modern
Used sculpture, engraving, painting, body ornamentation, and music
Complex languages developed
Given credit for causing the extinction of Neanderthals
Modern man has created rituals, traditions, ethics, social norms, and laws (SOCIAL ORDER)