ANTHROPOLOGY Flashcards
A pioneer of participant observation, Malinowski emphasized the importance
of long-term fieldwork and close interaction with the people being studied.
Bronislaw Malinowski
Application of human biology/ osteology in legal investigations.
Example: Forensic anthropologists assist in identifying human remains in mass disaster scenarios.
Forensic Anthropology
The study of non-human primates and how their behavior and morphology affects to our own specie.
Example: Studies on chimpanzee tool use have shed light on the origins of human technology.
Primatology
A renowned cultural anthropologist who conducted groundbreaking research on
gender roles and adolescent behavior.
Margaret Mead
TRUE OR FALSE
Studying anthropology helps in addressing contemporary challenges such as inequality, conflict, and
environmental sustainability.
TRUE
Type of Archaeology that engages communities in preserving and interpreting archaeological sites.
Example: Community-led excavations in local heritage sites foster public interest and education.
Public Archaeology
The study of language and its interaction with social system; explores the intricate relationship between language and culture, and how language
shapes social life.
Linguistic Anthropology
This perspective emphasizes the role of material conditions (environment, technology, economy) in shaping cultural beliefs and practices.
Cultural Materialism
Anthos- Human
Logos= Study of
It also helps us to understand the
diversity of human experience.
ANTHROPOLOGY
SUBFIELDS OF ANTHROPOLOGY
Biological
Archeology
Cultural Anthropology
Linguistic Anthropology
Type of Archaeology that studies societies with written documentation.
Example: Archaeological work at colonial Jamestown provides a deeper understanding of early American settlers.
Historical Archaeology
Explores power dynamics, authority,
and political systems within different
societies.
Example: Studying the role of
traditional leaders in modern African
political systems.
Political Anthropology
Comparative analysis of different
cultures to identify universal patterns.
Example: Cross-cultural studies on
marriage practices reveal diverse
matrimonial customs worldwide.
Ethnology
Examines how economic systems are
embedded in social and cultural
contexts.
Example: Investigating the informal
economy in urban slums to understand
survival strategies
Economic Anthropology
This approach focuses on the role
of symbols, language, and meaning in shaping human experience and culture.
Symbolic Anthropology
TRUE OR FALSE
Studying anthropology doesn’t make us appreciate the richness and complexity of human cultures around the world.
FALSE
It examines human experiences across
time and space, from the earliest
hominids to contemporary global
societies. This interdisciplinary perspective allows anthropologists to
gain a comprehensive understanding
of human behavior, beliefs, and
cultures.
ANTHROPOLOGY
The study of the material culture of past
people groups.
Archaeology
The study human societies in the present or recent past.
(Government, religion, taboos/ custom, gender roles)
Cultural Anthropology
In-depth study of specific cultures
through immersive fieldwork.
Example: Bronislaw
Malinowski’s work among the
Trobriand Islanders highlighted
the importance of participant
observation.
Ethnography
This perspective critiques traditional anthropological approaches, emphasizing the importance of power, agency, and the subjective experiences of
individuals.
Postmodernism
A leading figure in structural anthropology, Lévi-Strauss explored the underlying structures and patterns that
are common to all human cultures.
Claude Lévi-Strauss
Considered the “father of American anthropology,” Boas emphasized the importance of cultural relativism and
fieldwork.
Franz Boas
The search for and study of hominin fossils. Study of ancient human ancestors through fossils to understand evolutionary history.
Example: The discovery of “Lucy,” a 3.2-million-year-old Australopithecus afarensis fossil, provided significant insights into early human bipedalism.
Paleoanthropology
TRUE OR FALSE
Studying anthropology makes us understand our past and how we have adapted to different environments.
TRUE
a theory that provides a framework for understanding human origins, biological diversity, and cultural change over time.
Evolutionary Theory
Type of Archaeology that focuses on societies without written records.
Example: Excavations at Stonehenge reveal insights into Neolithic ceremonial practices.
Prehistoric Archaeology
The study of human biology in an
evolutionary framework.
Explores human biological diversity,
evolution, and the biological adaptations of humans and their relatives.
BIOLOGY/PHYSICAL
