1. GERALD F. MURRAY Introductory overview of Anthropology

2. Anthropology within the social sciences Human behavior and thought: can they be studied scientifically? Other social sciences: psychology, sociology, political science, economics. Anthropology’s original niche: the study of societies that the West considered “exotic” or “primitive.”

3. British vs. American anthropology British anthropologists studied colonial populations. American anthropologists focused on Native Americans. American anthropology departments incorporated the study of biological evolution, archeology, and linguistics. These remained separate disciplines in Europe.

4. The “four field” approach Biological anthropology Archeology Linguistic anthropology Cultural anthropology

5. Basic focus of course: evolving systems Diachronic focus: systems through time.  Biological evolution  Cultural evolution Universal components found in all cultures Synchronic structures: diversity of cultural systems.

6. Specific topics to be covered: evolutionary phases. Human evolution: from tree-dwelling primate to Homo sapiens Human survival strategies: from biological to cultural evolution. Stone-age technologies: Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic Major phases of cultural evolution: bands, tribes, chiefdoms, states. Human impact on the environment.

7. Synchronic focus: Cultural diversity Systems of production and exchange Family systems and kinship terminologies. Marriage systems Healing systems. Religious systems.

8. Applied anthropology and human problems The survival of cultures and languages.  Pressures on entire nations  Pressures on minority groups within nations. The protection and restoration of tree cover. The anthropology of individual survival

9. Background of the instructor Cultural anthropologist.  Countries where he has worked.  Topics that he has researched. Linguist Applied anthropologist

10. The Caribbean

11. Hispaniola: Haiti and Dominican Republic

12. South America: Peru

13. Africa

14. Israel / Palestine

15. The instructor’s U. of Florida website web.clas.ufl.edu/users/murray/ Links to the course. Course requirements