1. Introduction to Anthropology
HSP3C
Ms. Maharaj

2. What is Anthropology?
Anthropology is the broad study of humankind around the world and throughout time. 
It is concerned with both the biological and the cultural aspects of humans. 

3. There are four main subdivisions (areas) in the study of Anthropology:
Physical Anthropology
Archeology
Cultural Anthropology
Linguistic Anthropology

4. Physical Anthropology: Cultural Anthropology:
Theory of Evolution
Origin of Humans
Primatology
Evolutionary Timeline
Genetic Inheritance
Physical Adaptations
Anthropologists:
Darwin
Leakey's
Definition and Aspects of Culture
Race as a Social Construct
Race and Adaptation
Participation/Observation
Anthropologists:
Jane Goodall
Franz Boas
Margaret Mead

5. Physical Anthropology:
How the human species has changed physically over time (hundreds of millions of years) – called Biological evolution
Study of Primatology – primates (apes, chimps as ancestors of humans)
Why we have certain physical characteristics from our ancestors (i.e. skin colour…) - called Genetic inheritance
Evolution refers to change or transformation over time - how have humans changed and adapted over time – called Adaptation
Fossil record of human evolution

6. Video: Top 10 Archaeological Discoveries
Archaeology:
Prehistory and early
history of cultures around
the world
Major trends in cultural
evolution- how have people and cultures changed over time in terms of their traditions and practices
Techniques for finding, excavating, dating, and analyzing material remains of past societies – used to help prove theories, i.e. evolution, artifacts…
Video: Top 10 Archaeological Discoveries

7. Cultural Anthropology:
Culture and traditions of a
group of people
Ethnocentrism –
comparing other cultures to your own, believing that one’s own culture is superior to others
based on lack of knowledge and understanding
leads to stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination

8. Linguistic Anthropology:
The human communication process
Verbal and nonverbal communication
The structure, function, and history of languages

9. Linguistic Anthropology: Communication
Communication allows us to express feelings, describe tasks, argue or discuss a position or ideas
Communication was an essential skill for our ancestors
Co-operation during the hunt
Warning of potential danger

10. Skills and Methods used by Anthropologists
Participation-observation
Collection of statistics
Field interviews
Rigorous compilation of detailed notes
Fieldwork on anthropologists is know as “ethnography”: the scientific study of human races and cultures

11. Louis, Mary Leaky Jane Goodall Franz Boaz Margaret Mead
Famous Anthropologists

12. Much of their discoveries were throughout Africa
Louis and Mary Leakey
Credited with discovering physical evidence to support the evolutionary timeline
Through their discoveries, they concluded that we SHARE ONE COMMONE ANCESTOR!
Much of their discoveries were throughout Africa
This makes a lot of sense, since in recent years, anthropologists have tested DNA and found that we all HAVE originated in Africa
Optional-Short Biography:

13. Worked directly with the Leaky family
Jane Goodall Born: 3 April 1934, Birthplace: London, England, Died: n/a
Worked directly with the Leaky family
Her specialty was living with and understanding the language and behaviour of chimps
Her famous work is an example of the participation/observation method
Jane Goodall Clip:

14. Optional Info-Short Biography:
Franz Boas Born: 9-Jul-1858, Birthplace: Minden, Germany, Died: 22- Dec-1942
Studied and widely collected information on race, linguistics, art, dance, and archaeology.
From these studies he developed his theory of relativism, debunking the prevailing beliefs that Western Civilization is superior to less complex societies.
Optional Info-Short Biography:

15. Cultural Relativism
Cultural relativism is the view that all beliefs, customs, and ethics are relative to the individual within his own social context.
In other words, “right” and “wrong” are culture-specific; what is considered moral in one society may be considered immoral in another, and, since no universal standard of morality exists, no one has the right to judge another society’s customs.
Cultural relativists believe that all cultures are worthy in their own right and are of equal value.
Today’s anthropologist considers all cultures to be equally legitimate expressions of human existence, to be studied from a purely neutral perspective.

16. published Coming of Age in Samoa
Margaret Mead Born: December 16, 1901 , Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Died: November 15, 1978
Proposed that culture and gender roles play just as strong a role as biology in influencing adolescent behavior—
Optional Short Biography:
Much of her research was completed via participation/observation in Samoa and New Guinea
published Coming of Age in Samoa
presented the idea that the individual experience of developmental stages could be shaped by cultural demands and expectations
published Growing Up in New Guinea
she demonstrated that gender roles differed from one society to another, depending at least as much on culture as on biology