Exam 1 Flashcards
What is the definition of anthropology?
- the scientific and humanistic study of the human species and its immediate ancestors
- whole human condition
- explores biological and cultural diversity in pop. across time & space
What are the main characteristics of anthropology?
- holism: both cultural and biological aspects of human culture are studied = their temporal (time) and spatial dimensions
- comparative/cross-cultural: help illustrate diff customs, values, beliefs that ppl have made over many generations
- broad scope: broad compared to other social sciences/humanities
What are the main sub-disciplines?
- archaeology: reconstructs, describes, interprets human behavior through material remains
- biological/physical: studies biological diversity in time and space
- linguistic: studies language in social and cultural contexts
- socio-cultural: describes, analyzes, interprets & explains social and cultural similarities and differences
What are the three elements of research in cultural anthropology?
- Fieldwork: long-term research in community
- Participant observation: prolonged, first-hand and in depth contact with the local ppl
- informants: local ppl who provide info about the culture
What is the definition of ethnography?
- whole field research process that allows data collection
- written description and analysis of a single society, community or culture
- provides data that can help make theories/generalizations
What are the main differences between the two groups of San?
- “Yellow San”: diverse language, pale skin, delicate facial features, full-time hunter/gather or farmer/herders or wage laborers
- “Black San” : look more like Bantu ppl, speak “Tshe-Kwhe,” herding, farming, foraging, wage labor
What is the definition of culture?
- a complex whole including beliefs, knowledge, laws, morals, customs, other capabilities acquired by humans in a society
- total way of life of any society
- learned behaviors, beliefs, attitudes, values etc. of a partiucalr society
What are the three main aspects of culture?
- culture is learned
- culture is shared
- culture is symbolic
What are cultural universals?
- patterns of behavior and social institutions that exist cross-culturally (ex. language, religion)
What is adaptation?
- processes by which organisms cope w/ environ forces and stresses
- biological vs cultural adaptation
- culture rests on features of human biology
- culture also shapes human biology
describe the Kangwa Molapo
- dry river valley, source Nyae Nyae area of Namibia
- location of Dobe’s northern water holes
- Numsi
- most Ju/’hoansi live here
Desribe the /Xai/Xai Molapo
- smaller dry river valley
- main axis of settlement
- about a third live here
Describe the Aha hills
- until recently didnt have permanent settlements bc olacked source of surface water
Who are the Khoi?
- cattle and goat-herding ppl who lived in the Dobe area in 17th century
What is enculturation? Socialization?
- learning process of culture
- learning process gets more complex (socialization)
define applied anthro
- the application of anthropological data, persepctives, theory, and methods to identify, assess and solve contemporary social problems
What is rapport?
- freindly work relationship based on contact
What are symbols?
- something verbal or non-verbal that stands for something else
What is psychic unity of mankind?
- all human population have equivalent capacities for culture
Who are the Herero? Tswana? What is Bantu?
- non-San speaking groups, cattle herders who arrived in Dobe area 1920s
- they speak Bantu
What is the defining criteria used to identify San-speaking ppl
- hunting gathering subsistence
- posession of click languages
- self ID as San
- least reliable distinguish based on physical characteristics
What countreis compose the Dobe area?
- parts of Botswana and Namibia
