Anthropology (ANTH-401)

Dr. Inam Ullah Wattoo

 Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of what makes us human.
... Anthropologists also compare humans with other animals (most
often, other primates like monkeys and chimpanzees) to see what we
have in common with them and what makes us unique.
The science of human beings especially : the study of human beings
and their ancestors through time and space and in relation to physical
character, environmental and social relations, and culture.
Social anthropology is the study of human society and cultures. Social
anthropologists seek to understand how people live in societies and
how they make their lives meaningful.
 Types of anthropology
There are now four major fields of anthropology:
biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology,
and archaeology.
 Aim of anthropology
Anthropology is the systematic study of humanity, with the goal of
understanding our evolutionary origins, our distinctiveness as a
species, and the great diversity in our forms of social existence across
the world and through time.
 Difference between anthropology and
sociology
Anthropology studies human behaviour at the micro-level of an
individual which an anthropologist will take an example of the larger
culture. Sociology, on the other hand, tends to look at the bigger
picture, often studying political movements, and the power relations of
different groups with each other.
 Difference between anthropology and
archeology
Archaeology is similar to anthropology in that it focuses on
understanding human culture from the deepest history up until the
recent past. It differs from anthropology in that it focuses specifically
on analyzing material remains such as artifact and architectural
remnants.
 Difference between anthropology and
psychology
Simply put, anthropology is the study of humankind and culture,
while psychology is the study of the behavior of humans, among other
things, in different social settings. ... Also, while anthropology is
concerned only with the study of humans, psychology can be extended
to study animal behavior as well.
Difference between anthropology and
history
Anthropology is the study of humans. ... Cultural anthropologists often
do ethnography, where they travel to and study other
cultures. History is the study of the written record of the past. It
informs and is informed by anthropologists.
Characteristics of anthropology
According to the University of Idaho, the five main characteristics of
anthropology are culture, holistic approach, field work, multiply
theories and purposes of anthropology.
• Culture. ...
• Holistic Approach. ...
• Field Work. ...
• Multiply Theories. ...
• Purposes of Anthropology.
 Anthropology and life
Applied anthropologists work to solve real world problems by
using anthropological methods and ideas. For example, they may work
in local communities helping to solve problems related to health,
education or the environment. They might also work for museums or
national or state parks helping to interpret history.
 History of anthropology
Anthropology traces its roots to ancient Greek historical and
philosophical writings about human nature and the organization of
human society. ... They treated these questions as issues of religious
belief and promoted the idea that human existence and all of human
diversity were the creations of God.
 Human anthropology
In sum, humans are inherently group beings with shared practices and
beliefs, a point that social anthropologists have insisted on for some
time. Such a definition can only be deepened by pointing to the way in
which shared practices and beliefs are generated by our brains as a
consequence of our evolutionary past.
 Father of anthropology
Franz Uri Boas (1858–1942) was a German-born
American anthropologist and a pioneer of modern anthropology who
has been called the "Father of American Anthropology".