Preface
1. Culture and Anthropology (sample chapter)
Anthropology Defined
The Subdisciplines of Anthropology in the United States
Cultural Anthropology
Linguistics
Physical Anthropology
Archaeology
The Concept of Culture
Culture as Abstraction
The Emic/Etic Distinction
Ethnocentrism
Summary
Questions for Thought and Reflection
Endnotes
References Cited
2. Fieldwork
Anthropological Fieldwork: A History
Transforming the Observer:
the Making of an Anthropologist
The Fieldwork Process
Getting Ready for Fieldwork: A Theory and a Question
Working in the Field: First Contacts
Working in the Field: Some Preliminary Steps
Field Methods
Fieldwork Responsibilities
Summary
Questions for Thought and Reflection
References Cited
3. Culture Change and Transformation
Culture as Evolutionary Adaptation
Living Primates
Human Ancestors
Theories of the Transition to Modern Humans
Cultural Dynamics
Cultural Transformations and the Concept of Progress
Mechanisms of Cultural Change
Globalization
Summary
Questions for Thought and Reflection
References Cited
4. Making a Living
Early Views of Cross Cultural Subsistence
Hunting and Gathering/Foraging
Division of Labor
Residence and Mobility
Ownership and Sharing
The Shape of Foraging Groups
Herding and Pastoralism
Residential and Territorial Patterns
Division of Labor and Ownership
The Shape of Pastoral Groups
Horticulture and Small-Scale Farming
Division of Labor
Ownership, Distribution, and Residential Patterns
Gender
The Shape of Horticultural Societies
Agriculture and Large-Scale Farming
Division of Labor, Ownership, and Distribution of Wealth
The Shape of Agricultural Societies
Summary
Questions for Thought and Reflection
References Cited
5 Living Together
Why “Take me to your leader” does not always make sense,
and other myths about social organization
Savages and Barbarians
Bands
Kinship
Consensus
Seniority
Inequality
Division of Labor
Gender
Tribes
Lineages
Big Men
Gender
Chiefdoms
Kinship and Inequality
Political Structure and Division of Labor
Gender
States
Kinship
Inequality
Division of Labor
Gender
Summary
Questions for Thought and Reflection
References Cited
6. Kinship and Marriage
Kinship
Kinship Recognition
Reproduction and Residence
Lineages and Ancestors
Marriage, Affines and Alliance
Kinship Terminology
The Cultural Construction of Kinship
Kinship and Culture Change
Summary
Questions for Thought and Reflection
References Cited
7. Human Communication
Human Communication
Language Defined
The Varieties of Linguistics
Descriptive linguistics
Evolutionary Linguistics
Psycholinguistics
Historical Linguistics
Ethnolinguistics and Sociolinguistics
Summary
Questions for Thought and Reflection
References Cited
8. Religion
Origins of Religion
Shamanism
The Dark Arts
How Religion Moves Us: The Power of Ritual
Religion as Resistance
Religion and Environmental Regulation
Summary
Questions for Thought and Reflection
Endnotes
References Cited
9. Art
What Is Art?
A Definition of Art
The Question of Beauty
The Roles of Art
The Varieties of Art in Cultural Contexts
The Stratification of Art
Summary
Endnotes
Questions for Thought and Reflection
References Cited
10. Applied Anthropology
Applied Medical Anthropology
Physical Anthropology, Archaeology and Linguistics
Hunger, Poverty and Power
Victims of Progress
Hidden Hunger
Putting the Last First
Human Rights and Needless Deaths
Professional and Ethnical Issues
Summary
Questions for Thought and Reflection
Endnotes
References Cited
Glossary
Name Index
Subject Index
