Frequently Asked Questions

It has a long and complex history of evolution, dating back to ancient Greece and the work of thinkers such as Herodotus and Aristotle. Over time, anthropology has undergone several significant transformations, influenced by changes in intellectual, social, and political contexts. Here are some of the major stages of anthropology’s evolution:

1. Early Anthropology (18th-19th century): This period was characterized by explorers, missionaries, and scholars who were interested in learning about the diverse cultures and societies they encountered around the world. Their work was often focused on collecting information about different cultures, languages, and customs, which they used to create taxonomies and classifications of human groups. This period is also associated with the rise of evolutionary theory, which influenced the development of social Darwinism.

2. Boasian Anthropology (late 19th-early 20th century): Franz Boas, often called the “father of American anthropology,” is credited with establishing the discipline as a distinct academic field in the United States. Boas rejected the evolutionary ideas of his predecessors and instead argued that all cultures were equally complex and worthy of study. He emphasized the importance of cultural relativism and ethnographic fieldwork, which involved living with and studying the customs and practices of other cultures.

3. Cultural Anthropology (mid-20th century): In the mid-20th century, anthropology became more focused on the study of cultures as holistic systems, rather than the classification of different groups of people. This period was marked by the development of structural-functionalism, which emphasized the interconnectedness of different aspects of culture, and cultural ecology, which studied the ways in which cultures adapt to their environments.

4. Postmodern Anthropology (late 20th century): Postmodernism challenged the idea that there could be any objective truth or universal values, including those that underpinned anthropological research. This led to a growing emphasis on reflexivity and self-awareness among anthropologists, who began to acknowledge their own subjectivity and the ways in which their research was shaped by their own cultural backgrounds and assumptions.

5. Contemporary Anthropology (21st century): Today, anthropology is characterized by a diverse array of theoretical approaches and research methodologies, reflecting the discipline’s continued evolution and expansion. Anthropologists work in a variety of settings, including universities, non-governmental organizations, and government agencies, and are increasingly involved in public debates about issues such as globalization, human rights, and environmental sustainability.