Anthropology seeks to answer important questions about human origins, development, and culture through scientific study. It encompasses two main types: physical anthropology, which studies human evolution and biology by examining fossils and skeletal remains; and cultural anthropology, which seeks to understand and compare human cultures through methods like participant observation, archaeology, and cross-cultural comparison. Studying anthropology can help us better understand human behavior and development, provide insight into other cultures, and promote tolerance between groups.

1. All cultures all people have one. It answers many important questions. Anthropology tries to answer these questions scientifically. The Creation Myth

2. What questions does Anthroplogy answer? Why we are here. Explains life’s suffering Establishes or reveals a deity Explains the nature of that deity. Tells us about how we should live Explains the cause or origin of natural phenomenon Spoiled Paradise Establishes and explains social or hierarchical order. (Relationships) Ex: men and women, man and animals, man and the gods, etc. Gives reasons to follow the rules

3. A Brief History of ANTHROPOLOGY Not a field of study in U.S. until 1879. Why? No world travel Difficulty in sharing information. (compared to now) There was no belief in a common humanity. This idea changed after the ENLIGHTENMENT.

4. Understanding Anthropology Anthropology – the science that deals with the origins, physical characteristics, and cultural development of humankind Two Types : Cultural and Physical

5. The Physical Anthropologist Concerned with our species, homo sapiens, and its place in evolutionary history They Study: The evolution of our species Fossil and skeletal evidence Knowledge of biology and zoology is very important to their studies The science that studies past forms of life preserved in fossil remains is Paleontology

6. Cultural Anthropology Archeology Linguistics Ethnology- Often times referred to simply as cultural anthropology

7. Cultural Anthropology Seeks to understand how and why different people think and act similarly. Concerned with patterns of thought, behaviors, customs, kinship organization, political and economic systems, religion, art, music etc. They compare cultures Remember: Ethnology = Cultural Anthropology!

8. ARCHEOLOGY The study of the material remains of human culture in order to describe and explain human behavior. Focus is on the human past Objects from the past are studied. We refer to them as artifacts .

9. LINGUISTIC ANTHROPOLOGY Language transmits culture This field deals with the description of language and the history of languages. Language can tell you volumes about the way a group of people view the world.

10. Methods of Anthropological Research Field work- describes observable facts found on sites, where first hand observation is possible Classifies facts Establishes connections among facts Make generalizations based on evidence

11. Methods of Anthropological Research Participant Observation- When one lives among a culture, does not study the culture from research or by doing surveys - Important aspect of Anthropology and Sociology! Cross-Cultural Comparison- An examination of the varied ways a certain aspect of human life is treated in different cultures

12. Holistic Perspective In order to understand the way that individual things work in a system, you must understand the way that the entire system works

13. Why Study Anthropology?? To deepen your understanding of humans behavior To better understand human development To better understand about other cultures Increase tolerance

14. Why is it important to understand more about other cultures? Studying anthropology helps to eliminate racism, encourage toleration and promote peaceful solutions to problems