Do you think anthropology is all about the study of stones and old bones? It isn’t true. The essence of anthropology lies in the observation of different peoples and cultures – the way they are and not the way they should be.
Anthropology is the ‘study of humanity’. Learn more about the branches of anthropology in this lesson.
Anthropology is the study of the origin and development of human societies and cultures. Culture is the learned behavior of people, including their languages, belief systems, social structures, institutions, and material goods. By studying the characteristics of past and present human communities, anthropologists investigate and describe how different people of the world lived throughout history. They consider the composition of human bodies and genetics along with what was important for the man at different times in history. They compare humans with other animals like monkeys and chimpanzees, to understand what we have in common and what makes us unique.
There are five major branches of anthropology:
It is the study of societies and cultures around the world. They explore how the social culture, norms, economic and religious organizations, kinship system, marriage system, cultural practices, and behavioral patterns vary around the world. They try to find out different voices and perspectives in order to understand how societies vary and what they have in common. Most commonly, socio-cultural anthropologist studies contemporary societies rather than ancient ones.
It is the study of how humans adapt to different environments. Various principles and techniques of genetics, biology, and epidemiology are used to study human populations and their diversity. It explains the similarities and differences that are found among humans across the world.
It involves the study of the historical remains of the past civilizations to study the human past. These historical remains include objects that people in those periods of history used, created or modified. Historical remains are examined to interpret the activities of people and civilizations throughout history.
It is the study of the nature of human languages in the context of those cultures that developed them. It explores how language is used in our everyday lives to build and share meaning, to change power relations, and to form or change identities. In this branch of anthropology, language and communication are keys to understanding societies and cultures.
It is the application of anthropological methods and theories to the analysis and solution of practical problems.
