Anthropology: Asking Questions About Human Origins, Diversity, and Culture

Description

This general anthropology text takes a holistic approach that emphasizes critical thinking, active learning, and applying anthropology to solve contemporary human problems. Building on the classical foundations of the discipline, Anthropology: Asking Questions About Human Origins, Diversity, and Culture, Second Edition, shows students how anthropology is connected to such current topics as food, health and medicine, and the environment. Full of relevant examples and current topics--with a focus on contemporary problems and questions--the book demonstrates the diversity and dynamism of anthropology today. PART I The Anthropological Perspective 1 Anthropology: Asking Questions About Humanity 2 Culture: Giving Meaning to Human Lives 3 Human Biocultural Evolution: Emergence of the Biocultural Animal 4 Cross-Cultural Interactions: Understanding Culture and Globalization PART II Becoming Human 5 Living Primates: Comparing Monkeys, Apes, and Humans 6 Ancestral Humans: Understanding the Human Family Tree 7 Human Biodiversity Today: Understanding Our Differences and Similarities 8 The Body: Biocultural Perspectives on Health and Illness PART III Humans and Their Material Worlds 9 Materiality: Constructing Social Relationships and Meanings with Things 10 Early Agriculture and the Neolithic Revolution: Modifying the Environment to Satisfy Human Demands 11 The Rise and Decline of Cities and States: Understanding Social Complexity in Prehistory PART IV Human Social Relations and Their Meanings 12 Linguistic Anthropology: Relating Language and Culture 13 Economics: Working, Sharing, and Buying 14 Sustainability: Environment and Foodways 15 Power: Politics and Social Control 16 Kinship and Gender: Sex, Power, and Control of Men and Women 17 Religion: Ritual and Belief Epilogue: Anthropology and the Future of Human Diversity