Four Fields of Anthropology Flashcards

Study Notes

Overview of Anthropology

Anthropology is the study of humans, encompassing prehistoric origins and contemporary human diversity.

Four Fields of Anthropology

The four primary fields include:
- Biological/Physical Anthropology: Examines humans as biological organisms.
- Cultural Anthropology: Focuses on studying living people and their cultures.
- Archaeology: Investigates prehistory, historical, and underwater contexts.
- Linguistic Anthropology: Analyzes communication, language origins, and cultural changes related to language.

Biological/Physical Anthropology

Major subfields include:
- Primatology: Study of primates and their behaviors.
- Forensic Anthropology: Application of archaeology and biological anthropology in legal contexts.
- Biomedical Anthropology: Explores the relationship between health and cultural practices.
- Paleoanthropology: Investigates the origins and evolution of humans.
- Bioarchaeology: Examines human remains from archaeological sites to understand past populations.

Cultural Anthropology

Key subfields include:
- Psychological Anthropology: Explores the interplay of culture and psychology.
- Economic Anthropology: Studies economic practices in different cultures.
- Political Anthropology: Investigates power dynamics and governance within cultures.

Archaeology

Involves studying human history through recovery and analysis of artifacts, including:
- Prehistoric periods (before written records).
- Historic periods (after writing was developed).
- Underwater archaeology for submerged sites.

Linguistic Anthropology

Investigates how language shapes and is shaped by cultural context.
Emphasizes the impact of language extinction, resulting in the loss of culture and knowledge.

Holistic and Comparative Approaches

Holism integrates all known aspects of human life, acknowledging complexity in human behavior.
Comparative anthropology analyzes different cultures to better understand societal variations and similarities.

Description

This quiz encompasses the fundamental concepts of anthropology, including its four main fields: biological/physical anthropology, cultural anthropology, archaeology, and linguistic anthropology. Each flashcard provides definitions and key examples to enhance your understanding of human diversity and origins. Perfect for students studying anthropology!