Introduction to Anthropology

Anthropology traditionally directs its attention to uncivilized societies, to societies whose members cannot read or write, to primitive or “folk” societies, whereas sociology limited its direct attention to historical societies, societies that are complex rather than simple, to societies, in short, whose members can read or write.

TO WHAT GROUPS DO HUMANS BELONG? Humans are classified by biologists as belonging to the Primate order, a group that also includes lemurs, indriids, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes. By studying the anatomy and behavior of monkeys and apes, the primates most closely related to us, we draw closer to to understanding how and why humans developed as they did.

WHEN AND HOW DID HUMANS EVOLVE? Present evidences suggests that humans evolved from the small, apelike ramapithecans, which lived between 15 and 8 million years ago. By 4 million years ago, Australopithecus, apparently a descendant of ramapithecines, had become fully adapted for moving about on the open savanna on its hind legs in the distinctive human manner. Otherwise, the behavior of this human ancestor probably was comparable to that of modern-day chimpanzees.

WHEN AND HOW DID HUMAN CULTURE EVOLVE? Human culture appears to have developed as some populations of Australopithecus began making stone tools with which they could butcher animals for their meat. Actually, the earliest stone tools and evidence of significant meat eating date to between 2.5 and 2 million years ago, along with the appearance of the genus Homo, whose brain was significantly enlarged over that of Australopithecus. From then on the increasing importance of culture in human survival favored the evolution of a better brain, which in turn made possible improvement in culture as the vehicle through which humans secured their survival. By about 100,000 years ago, the human brain had reached its modern size, but culture has continued to evolve and change down to the present time.

study of humankind everywhere, throughout time, seeks to produce useful generalizations about people and their behavior and to arrive at the fullest possible understanding of human diversity

anthropos (gk.) which means man or human being + logos which means to study

systematic study of humans as biological organisms

branch of anthropology that focuses on human behavior

study of material remains, usually from the past, to describe

and explain human behavior. the branch of cultural anthropology that studies human language

systematic description of a culture based on firsthand observation

Assignment on the Stages of Man’s Cultural development1. Paleolithic – Human beings are tool-making animals. The making and using of tools is the first evidence of the human ability to use reason to solve

problems. Primitive stone tools.2. Mesolithic Culture – transitional culture developed as people’s way of adapting to their new environment after the ice age. Domestication of dogs, made

bows and arrows for hunting and devised skis, sleds and canoes.3. Neolithic Revolution – agriculture, pottery, and weaving. Sharpened their tools and weapons by polishing their edges. Polished Stone Age. Learned to

build the first boats.4. Age of Metals – transition period from prehistoric period to the historic period. Copper – first metal used in the orient particularly the Sumerians and

Egyptians. Bronze – oriental people learned that from mixing copper and tin, a harder metal could be produced. Iron – Hittites of Asia Minor were the first people to use iron tools and weapons.