Grade 11 Anthropology Cheat Sheet
Definition of Anthropology
Anthropology is the holistic and comparative study of humanity. It is the systematic exploration of human biology, culture, and archaeology.
Branches of Anthropology
The four major subfields of anthropology are cultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistic anthropology, and physical (biological) anthropology.
Methods of Research
Ethnography (participant observation), surveys, and interviews are key anthropological research methods for gathering empirical data.
Ethnocentrism vs Cultural Relativism
Ethnocentrism is judging another culture by the standards of one's own culture. Cultural relativism is the practice of assessing a culture by its own standards rather than viewing it through the lens of one's own.
Theories of Human Evolution
The Out-of-Africa theory suggests that modern humans evolved in Africa and then dispersed to other continents. The Multiregional theory proposes that early humans evolved in multiple regions simultaneously.
Key Hominin Fossils
Fossils like Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy) and Homo neanderthalensis provide insights into human evolution and behaviour.
Tool Use and Development
The evolution of tool use, from simple stone flakes to complex instruments, reflects the technological advancements of early human societies.
Human Migration Patterns
Tracking ancient human migration through genetic, fossil, and archaeological evidence shows the spread and adaptation of humans across the globe.
Kinship and Social Organization
Examining kinship systems helps to understand social structures, inheritance, and marriage practices within different cultures.
Economic Systems
Anthropologists study various economic systems, from hunter-gatherer societies to complex economies, to understand resource distribution and consumption behaviours.
Belief Systems and Rituals
The diversity of belief systems, mythologies, and rituals are explored to comprehend their role in shaping societies and cultures.
Language and Communication
Language is a central aspect of culture; anthropologists examine how language shapes social interaction, identity, and group belonging.
Excavation Techniques
Archaeologists use systematic excavation methods to uncover artifacts and ecofacts that inform about past human activities.
Dating Methods
Radiocarbon dating and dendrochronology are among the methods used to date archaeological finds and understand the timeline of human history.
Analyzing Artifacts
The study of artifacts involves classification, analysis of function and style, and interpretation of their cultural significance.
Reconstructing Past Environments
Archaeologists use evidence from excavations to reconstruct past landscapes, climates, and ecological conditions that influenced human societies.
Functionalism
Functionalism, associated with Bronislaw Malinowski, examines social institutions and practices in terms of their roles in maintaining societal harmony.
Structuralism
Claude LĂ©vi-Strauss's structuralism focuses on uncovering the deep structures underlying cultural practices and human cognition.
Post-Modernism
Post-modern anthropologists challenge the idea of objective knowledge, emphasizing reflexivity and the deconstruction of the author's role.
Prominent Anthropologists
Franz Boas, Margaret Mead, and Clifford Geertz have contributed significantly to cultural anthropology, influencing theories and methodologies.
Globalization and Cultural Change
Anthropologists study the impacts of globalization on cultures, examining topics such as cultural homogenization and the persistence of local traditions.
Human Rights and Ethics
Anthropologists engage with issues surrounding human rights, indigenous rights, and the ethical considerations of anthropological research.
Environmental Anthropology
This field addresses human interactions with the environment, examining the cultural aspects of environmental problems and resource management.
Medical Anthropology
Medical anthropologists explore the cultural factors in health and illness, including traditional medicine, health practices, and healthcare systems.
Cultural Anthropology Exploration
Cultural anthropology is the study of human cultures, beliefs, practices, values, ideas, technologies, economies, and other domains of social and cognitive organization.
Key Concepts
Understanding basic terminology and concepts is crucial in cultural anthropology.
Culture
The complex whole of knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities acquired by humans as society members.
Ethnography
A research strategy in cultural anthropology involving the immersion of the anthropologist in the culture being studied.
Participant Observation
A key anthropological research strategy involving both participation in and observation of the daily life of the people being studied.
Cultural Relativism
The principle of understanding another individual's beliefs and practices within their own cultural context without making judgments.
Research Methods
Cultural anthropologists use various methods to gather information and understand different cultures.
Qualitative Methods
These include participant observation, interviews, and analysis of cultural artifacts—methods that yield descriptive data.
Quantitative Methods
Statistical, mathematical, or computational techniques are used to study patterns and phenomena within cultural data.
Ethnographic Fieldwork
Extended observation of the social practices and conversations of people in their natural settings.
Comparative Methods
Analysing multiple societies or cultures and comparing similarities and differences.
Main Focus Areas
Cultural anthropology has several areas that are commonly studied to understand the breadth of human cultural diversity.
Social Organization
Study of how cultures organize themselves, including kinship structures, social hierarchies, and collective groupings.
Language and Communication
The exploration of how language is intertwined with culture and how communication happens within and across cultures.
Economic and Political Systems
Examining the varied ways in which societies organize their economic activities and governance.
Beliefs and Rituals
Understanding the religious practices, rituals, and beliefs and their role in the social coherence and values of a society.
Current Challenges
Cultural anthropology faces contemporary challenges that it seeks to understand and address.
Globalization
The impact of global interconnectedness on local cultures and identity practices.
Climate Change
Exploring how different cultures comprehend and respond to environmental changes and global warming.
Technological Changes
Studying the influence of new technologies on social interaction and cultural practices.
Migration and Displacement
Analyzing how movements of people affect cultural identities and social structures.