Anthropology Final

Four kinship terminology categorization systems

1. Lineal terminology 2. Bifurcate merging terminology 3. Generated terminology 4. Bifurcate collateral terminology

Three types of rituals

1. Rites of intensification 2. Rites of affliction 3. Rites of passage

Four trends of hominin evolution

1. bipedalism 2. dental changes 3. cranial changes 4. material culture

3 patterns of economic exchange

1. market principle 2. redistribution 3. reciprocity

When did the homo genus appear?

2.4 million years ago

Au. Anamensis (4.2 ~3.9 mya)

4.2-3.8 kenya

genetic drift

A change in the allele frequency of a population as a result of chance events rather than natural selection.

civilization

A complex, highly organized social order

Diaspora

A dispersion of people from their homeland

sexual selection

A form of natural selection in which individuals with certain inherited characteristics are more likely than other individuals to obtain mates.

H. erectus

A highly successful form of early human; expanded from Africa into Eurasia by 1.77 m.y.a. (1.9-0.5? m.y.a.). First to leave africa

Empire

A mature state that is large, multiethnic, militaristic, and expansive.

What happened as a result of sedentism and demarcating resources?

A new system of property rights and claims over food production emerged

Discuss one of the key attributes of the Primary State that were discussed in your textbook and class. Briefly describe why you think that the attribute is unique to states and NOT in egalitarian and ranked societies.

A primary state is one that is formed its own rather than through contact with another pre-existing state. A key attribute is social stratification. This is unique to states because social classes are clearly defined unlike egalitarian and ranked societies. Egalitarian societies have no inherited social distinctions and Ranked societies are generally ranked solely on lineage to the chief.

natural selection

A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits.

Gene

A segment of DNA on a chromosome that codes for a specific trait

What is the definition of a focal vocabulary?

A set of words focused on particular activities and understandings

ascribed status

A social position assigned to a person by society without regard for the person's unique talents or characteristics.

Chiefdom

A society with a permanent political structure, hereditary leaders, and social ranking but lacking class divisions.

nation-state

A state whose territory corresponds to that occupied by a particular ethnicity that has been transformed into a nationality

Stratification

A structured ranking of entire groups of people that perpetuates unequal economic rewards and power in a society.

expressive culture

A term used to describe manifestations of human creativity, such as dance, music, painting, sculpture, pottery, cloth, stories, drama, and comedy.

Global Culture

A type of culture—some would say U.S. culture—that has spread across the world in the form of Hollywood films, fast-food restaurants, and popular music heard in virtually every country.

What were the four hominin species that coexisted in Africa around 2 m.y.a.?

A. boesei, A. africanus, H. habilis, and H. erectus

Globalization

Actions or processes that involve the entire world and result in making something worldwide in scope.

How did domestication of plants OR animals occur? What physical/morphological changes happened and how were people thinking about it?

After long periods of experimenting with using domesticates as supplements for their diet, humans began using domesticated plants as primary source of food. Environmental changes allowed sedentism which facilitated this process. Grains domesticated were larger, had tougher joints, and unintentional changes in pollen. Certain physical traits, such as tougher joints, were selected for intentionally by people.

Allele

An alternative form of a gene.

state

An area organized into a political unit and ruled by an established government with control over its internal and foreign affairs.

Australopithecus afarensis

An early australopithecine from East Africa that had a brain size equivalent to a modern chimpanzee's and is thought to be a direct human ancestor.

H. Hablis

An early hominin species (2.8?-1.44 m.y.a.), first discovered by L. S. B. and Mary Leakey in 1960; named habilis, meaning "able," for their presumed ability to make tools.

race

An ethnic group assumed to have a biological basis.

Acculturation

An exchange of cultural features between groups in firsthand contact.

Think about how we put fossil primates and hominins into evolutionary order. What is the difference between homologies and analogies and what are the dating methods used?

Analogies are structures that have the same function across multiple species, but have a very different evolutionary background. An example of an analogous structure could be crab and turtle shells, which both were evolved for protection, but these animals have very different common ancestors. Homology is a structure that has a very similar evolutionary track, but does not serve the same function. A homologous structure would be the arm of a human and the wing of the bird. The dating method used for each of these could be radiometric dating (absolute).

Briefly discuss what is meant by applied anthropology. Use one example to explain how applied anthropology works in a field setting.

Applied anthropology has to do with using the knowledge one learns in the classroom about anthropology and taking it out in the world to conduct studies. An example of this would be an anthropologist conducting an ethnographic report after researching a tribe of peoples in South America through observation.

The best explanation for the differences between applied and academic anthropology is that:

Applied anthropology seeks to solve problems, academic anthropology seeks to advance knowledge; both have real-world applications

Colonialism

Attempt by one country to establish settlements and to impose its political, economic, and cultural principles in another territory.

What is the best explanation for the universal incest taboo?

Avoiding incest promotes wider social networks through marriage.

Diffusion

Borrowing of cultural traits between societies.

Bipedalism allowed hominids to walk on two legs. Knowing the evolutionary reasons, which of the following hypotheses is NOT correct or related?

Brain Expansion

Define rite of passage, describe the three stages of a rite of passage, discuss how each stage affects the initiate, and provide a specific cultural example.

Ceremony of passage where one person leaves one group to join another.Separation — people withdraw from their current status and prepare to move from one place or status to another.Liminality — middle ground where one has left one place but has not yet entered anotherReincorporation — assumed new identity and re-enters society with new status

What are the two primary determinants that best explain the Neolithic changes leading to domestication and sedentism as a global phenomenon and how did they shape the direction of these cultural changes?

Climate change and an Increasing population. Climate change made foraging more unreliable and thus made sedentism and domestication more attractive.Increasing populations made foraging less sustainable and since domestication could provide more food this pushed domestication.

Political, social, and cultural domination of a territory and it's people by a foreign power for an extended period of time is:

Colonialism

What are the primary driving forces of globalization today?

Colonialism and the world system

Bathroom habits, bathing and dental care, and waste elimination were discussed in the textbook, Chapter 2 on culture, as examples of

"Culture and Nature"

Paranthropus robustus

(South Africa): 1.8 - 1.5 million years, similar to A. boisei, but not quite as robust - possible southern variant.

World-systems theory assigns countries within a 3-tiered hierarchy based on economic and political power. The three tiers are:

Core, Periphery, semi periphery

What is cultural relativism and why is it used in anthropological research?

Cultural relativism is used to help understand cultures that may be unfamiliar. It is the opposite of ethnocentrism and can help an anthropologist familiarize themselves with an unfamiliar culture.

Discuss one of the major culture theories of anthropology from the textbook. Be sure to detail how it looks at culture, people, and behavior and focus on the benefits that this theory offers to the understandings that are sought by anthropologists.

Culture and nature is a major theory of anthropology. This theory explains that the surroundings a human is in can affect the natural things which a person carries out such as eating or using the restroom.

Which of the following is NOT true?

Culture is always adaptive

What is Darwinian evolution? What are the 3 things that Darwin was missing in his version and how have they been filled in getting us to the Modern Theory of Evolution?

Darwinian evolution was primarily based on the idea of natural selection where the most successful at reproducing in certain environments are selected. However, Darwin was missing some pretty essential concepts in his theory like how inheritance worked, where variation comes from, and how populations change over time. These have now been figured out to get us to the Modern Theory of Evolution. Mendelian genetics explains how inheritance and variation work. Punctuated equilibrium explains how change happens over time.

Racial classification based on phenotype raises the problem of

Deciding which trait should be primary

Displacement

Describing things and events that are not present; basic to language.

sexual dimorphism

Differences in physical characteristics between males and females of the same species.

What do we use to explain the biological variation between modern human populations today? In other words, what is the explanation for why different groups of people have certain physical traits that makes these populations biologically different from others. In addition, provide an example of one of these specific population traits with the environmental explanation for it.

Different environments and natural selection explain the biological variation between human populations. Certain groups evolve in different environments and traits best suited for this environment are selected for. People located along the equator have larger melanin counts. This is because melanin can protect skin from the sun's radiation.

Ardipithicus group

Earliest hominine fossils (Bipedal)

Au. afarensis

Early Australopithecus species (3.8-3.0 m.y.a.), Ethiopia ("Lucy"), Tanzania.

One of the big research questions for anthropologists is to describe how economies are organized including the adaptive strategies. Name and describe each of the five adaptive strategies. For one of the non-industrial adaptive strategies give one specific cultural example of a society that engages in it as their primary subsistence strategy.

Economic systems balance demand, supply, and needs through production, distributing, exchanging, and consumingFew direct social connections:- Market principle — going to Publix to buy chips- Negative reciprocity — stealing from someoneDirect social connections:- Redistribution — charity donations- Balanced reciprocity — trading with someoneClose social connections:- Generalized reciprocity — parents giving children gifts for birthdays

The following perspective refers to how local people think, perceive, categorize and explain things?

Emic

Through forms of fieldwork, the anthropologist strives to achieve an understanding of culture in terms of how the local people think. What is the name for this understanding of culture?

Emic approach

Holistic

Encompassing past, present, and future; biology, society, language, and culture.

The process whereby children learn their own culture is called

Enculturation

Which of the following statements about ethnicity is true?

Ethnicity is the identification with a group that shares a common set of beliefs, values, customs, and norms.

Attributes of Culture

-learned -shared -symbolic -culture and nature -all-encompassing -integrated -levels -adaptive/maladaptive -individual practice

Please define ethnocentrism and state how anthropologists deal with it in their fieldwork and interpretations.

Ethnocentrism is the idea that an individual's culture is the "correct" culture or the right way to do things. This means anthropologists need to avoid cross cultural examinations.

What trait differentiates Homo neanderthalensis from Homo sapiens sapiens?

1 a stocky build with large muscles and large nasal cavity 2 an elongated cranium with very large capacity ~1430 cm3

Which of the following is a trait of human communication?

1 displacement 2 productivity 3 body language 4 culturally transmitted

Why do plural marriages exist?

1) Equalize sex ratios 2) Marrying late in life 3) Political reasons 4) Economic cooperation

cultural attributes of Early States

1) Regional territory 2) Farming economies 3) Tribute and taxation 4) Stratified 5) Building programs 6) Record-keeping systems

Which of the following is not an example of magic?

Mana

First, define the expression of religion that we call "mana." Second, provide ONE example of "mana" in contemporary American culture, whether personal experience, observation, or societal fiction.

Mana is the belief in supernatural impersonal forces. Mana is believed to reside in people, animal, plants, or objects. Object including "good luck charms" like a rabbit's foot or heads up penny.

Anthropologists describe how economies are organized in regards to systems of distribution and exchange. Name and briefly describe the three systems of exchange (including the 3 types of the last one) and then for ONE of the systems or subtypes describe the adaptive strategy of the society in which it is primary, the kind of social connections it reflects, and a specific cultural example.

Market Principle — exchange of goods and services with a standardized valueEx: dominant in global exchangeRedistribution — centrally redistributed goods throughout a communityEx: ranked societiesReciprocity— the exchange of goods and services

Marriage ideas and practices exist in all societies, but why do people get married? What are some of the social and cultural meaning of marriage (the traits) and give at least one example?

Marriage is one of the basic building blocks of all societies therefore there are many reasons people may get married. Marriage is a social and culturally approved relationship and is primarily about descent and connections. In most societies, marriage implies certain permitted sexual access and connects two descent groups. One example of a connection made through marriage is economic wealth exchange between two unilinear groups like a bride wealth and dowry.

Semantics

Meaning of words and sentences

Homonid

Member of hominid family; any fossil or living human, chimp, or gorilla.

Which of the following gender roles are correct among hunter-gatherer societies?

Men are hunters and women are gatherers

First complex societies were found in?

Middle East

What is the process of spontaneous alteration of genetic materials in an organism called?

Mutation

The change in the coloring of the peppered moth in England following industrialization is an example of

Natural Selection

Modern theory of evolution

Natural selection acts on the variations in the population caused by mutations and sexual reproduction

In terms of the second discussion about Pseudo-archaeological ideas, are these 'fantastic' claims equally valid understandings to the more scientific archaeological explanations? Using what you learned in class and from the textbook, what is one of the cultural, social, or economic problems or issues associated with pseudo-archaeology? Explain it.

No these are not equally valid as theses fantastic claims do not have empirical evidence to support their theories. Archeology uses empirical evidence while the fantastic claims do not follow the scientific method.

How are non-industrial societies' economic activities different from industrialized societies' in terms of means and modes of production?

Non industrialized are often characterized by redistribution and reciprocity in contrast to industrialized societies which involve a market principle. Non industrialized societies focus more on the overall success of the community rather than individual success.

Which of the following is not an expression of religion?

None of the Above

Which of the following statements most clearly describes gender from a culture that recognizes multiple gender identities?

None of the above

Of the following, which is a way that Archaeological methods for studying populations of the past differ in regard to methods used to study populations of the present?

Oftentimes when studying populations of the past, an archaeological survey is needed

Cattarhines

Old World Monkeys, Apes, Humans

What does cultural relativism mean?

One culture should not be judged based on another culture.

Discuss and describe two of the six primate biological tendencies/traits that were considered in the lecture and your textbook. For each, be sure to detail the evolutionary advantages of each of the tendencies.

One of the primate biological traits would be an increased brain size. This increased brain size improved primates ability to process information, leading to the formation of tools and innovations which otherwise may have not been achieved, this trait also greatly increased the brain to body ratio among primates. Another trait would be parental involvement. Parental involvement allows offspring to develop more safely as well as allow for learned behaviors to transition more seamlessly.

Discuss two BIOLOGICAL traits that are shared by humans and other apes and that are distinct from monkeys and other primates (do NOT discuss behaviorial traits).

One trait would be a long period of rest occuring immediately after the birth of offspring, giving the body much more time to recover before the next breeding cycle. This is because the pelvis shifts during the birthing process and needs time to return to its previous shape. The next trait which is shared would be large brain size which leads humans to be advanced and take part in civilization, while apes are able to communicate and take care of their families due to their advanced cognitive ability.

society

Organized life in groups; shared with humans by monkeys, apes, wolves, mole rats, and ants, among other animals.

Which of the following method of data collection is fundamental to ethnography?

Participant Observation

punctuated equilibrium

Pattern of evolution in which long stable periods are interrupted by brief periods of more rapid change

Aesthetic value is one way of distinguishing art; another way is to consider

Placement

Marriage between one woman and multiple men is referred to as

Polyandry

different types of marriage

Polygamy (Multiple Wives) Polyandry (Multiple Husbands) Homogamy (Similar Standing)

Identify and describe the 3 different ways Population Genetic frequencies can change.

Population genetics frequencies can change through natural selection, random genetic drift, and gene flow. Natural selection is when forms that are the most reproductively successful are selected. Random genetic drift is when gene frequency changes due to chance. Gene flow, the opposite of genetic drift, is the exchange of genetic material though interbreeding.

The ability to exercise one's will over others is called

Power

What does non-human primate language and communication abilities tell us about human language and human abilities?

Primates can only use call systems instead of stringing thoughts together which shows that humans are much more capable with development of language.

convergent evolution

Process by which unrelated organisms independently evolve similarities when adapting to similar environments

Long periods of stability with occasional evolutionary leaps best describes

Punctuated Equilibrium

First, please explain what punctuated equilibrium is and how it shows us how evolution works over time. Second, in addition to punctuated equilibrium, what are the four other parts that make up the Modern Synthesis of Evolutionary Theory.

Punctuated equilibrium is relatively slow or no evolutionary change with occasional punctuations of specification bursts. The four other parts that make up the Modern Synthesis of Evolutionary Theory are Darwinian evolution, Mendelian Genetics, Biochemical genetics, and population genetics.

Give me the anthropological definition for 'race' as well as compare and contrast it to 'ethnicity'.

Race are cultural categories based on physical traits but ethnicity are self or group identification within an ethnic group. Ethnicity is more changeable than race meaning individuals can shift or be given different ethic identities and ethnic identities can be formed (ex multicultural interactions). Ethnicity and race both coexist and contribute to the an individuals identity and overall self-concept.

Using your knowledge from the textbook and lecture, discuss why race is a discredited idea in biology. Use examples to make your points.

Race is a discredited theory is biology because there is more biological diversity among a given race than across other races. Races are simply the doing of adaptation and should not be looked at as something that can define a species. There is also no real definition of race, race is something that is determined by the chemical melatonin and its presence within the skin, and does not really change anything else about the genetics of a person except for this adaptation.

Race is a biological category because:

Race isn't a biological category so none of the above.

Which of the following is one of the three market principles that guide exchange?

Redistribution

collateral relatives

Relatives that are neither direct ancestors nor direct descendants of an individual (e.g., siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews).

Religion exists in all societies. In anthropology we focus on different cultural behaviors and understandings of connections to the supernatural. What are at least 3 of the social/cultural functions or purpose of religion and give at least one specific cultural example?

Religion is an important influencer, action promoter, and social controller for many cultures. For example, religion help people change their behavior so they may adapt to a local ecosystem as with the Bali water ritual.

Which of the following is NOT one of the trends of hominin evolution?

Sexual Dimorphism

The most important reason for similarities between two unrelated societies is their possession of

Similar economic adaptive strategy

Homologies

Similarities between organisms based on descent from a common ancestor.

Which of the following is not one of the four fields of anthropology?

Sociological Anthropology

population genetics

Study of allele frequency distribution and change under the influence of evolutionary processes.

Assimilation

The absorption of minorities within a dominant culture.

Think about what culture is and give the anthropological definition of culture. What are some attributes that define it for anthropologists?

The anthropological definition of culture is a set of learned, shared behaviors and ideas that humans gain as members of society. Learned culture is passed generation to generation, Shared culture exists within specific groups

core

The dominant position in the world system; nations with advanced systems of production.

Describe the field of anthropology. What does it do, what are the subfields, and what are the two dimensions?

The field of anthropology refers to the study of humans throughout time, by looking at the changes location, culture, language and physical structure. Anthropology gives us a better understanding of where we came from and how to understand our past. The four subfields would include Biological anthropology which is the study of how humans have changed biologically as well as how cultures differ biologically, Linguistic anthropology which is the study of global languages, past and present. Archaeological Anthropology is the study of past remains of long lost cultures, and Cultural anthropology is the study of human culture. Academic anthropology is used to increase our understanding of culture through research and studying, while applied anthropology takes this information into the world for practical application in many industries.

Given the significance of bipedalism in terms of hominin evolution and human attributes, think about what you learned in class as well as the textbook. Give and explain 3 biological/skeletal changes and/or markers of bipedalism and 2 possible behavioral/environmental explanations for the evolutionary advantage of bipedalism.

The first biological change from bipedalism is a pelvis suited for giving birth as well as walking Second Knee bones and joints were strengthened Third is the lumbar curve in the spinal column Freed arms, easier movement across grassland

1) name the three ways that cultural traits are shared or not shared between societies with examples and 2) name the ways that culture changes.

The first way is universals, which are behaviors which all humans partake in, such as eating, or living in social groups like a family. The second way is through generalities or behaviors which are learned in most cultures, such as birth. Finally there are particularities which are behaviors which are unique to a certain culture. Culture can change through diffusion, globalization, acculturation, and independent invention.

What are the four trends of hominin evolution? Discuss which trends happen and when (not necessarily specific dates, but relative to each other in chronological order). Use species names as examples.

The four trends are evolving terrestrially, bipedalism, increased brain size and civilization. Dental changes Authropicis Afarensis Bipedalism Ardipithecus Brain Size Homo Habilis Civilization Homo Erectus

Name and briefly describe the five different parts of the Modern Synthesis of Evolutionary Theory, which we now think of as the whole theory of evolution.

The origins of the theory of evolution are Darwinian Evolution (natural selection), Mendelian Genetics (inheritance and variation, alleles), Biochemical genetics (more variation-mutation and cross-over), population genetics (natural selection, random genetic drift, and geneflow), and punctuated equilibrium (long times of no/little change with sporadic bursts of abrupt change).

Describe each of the three Out-of-Africa Models discussed in class and tell me which one is the most widely accepted model in anthropology today.

The out of africa models describe the movement of the ancestors of humans from the continent of africa. The first out of africa model pertains to the Homo Erectus group shortly after the dawn of fire. The next Model is the archaeic Homo Sapiens replacing the H. Erectus, and finally would be the dawn of modern man.

Mendelian Genetics

The pattern of inheriting characteristics that follows the laws formulated by Gregor Mendel

Briefly describe the point of the article by Horace Miner that we covered in our first group in-class discussion. Dr. Miner wrote this article for anthropologists, what was the point/purpose he was trying to make with this article?

The point was that anthropologists need to use cultural relativism when breaking down a culture. Miner scrutinized all aspects of our familiar American culture by breaking down what could be viewed as strange to other cultures with things such as the mouth rite ritual and his twisted explanation of a hospital as a place where people go to die. By using this ethnocentric nomenclature for common, everyday, things it makes what we as Americans are familiar with feel completely foreign, meaning anthropologists need to do their best to familiarize themselves and relate cultures to their own before drawing conclusions.

Dendrochronology

The process of counting tree rings to determine the age of a tree

What are the three reasons that anthropology is a unified field in the United States?

The reasons why anthropology is a unified field is because of historical, topical, and fieldwork reasons. A historical reason would relate to the history of native north americans, as well as the manner in which Boaz developed the field of anthropology. A topical reason would be in connection to human variation in time and space. Finally, fieldwork reasons speaks for itself because many different kinds of anthropological scientists must work together to complete research.

kinship calculation

The relationships based on kinship that people recognize in a particular society, and how they talk about those relationships.

Taxonomy

The scientific study of how living things are classified

Transhumance

The seasonal migration of livestock between mountains and lowland pastures.

Ethnosemantics

The study of lexical (vocabulary) categories and contrasts.

Anthropology

The study of the humans around the world and through time.

independent invention

The term for a trait with many cultural hearths that developed independent of each other

Discuss the importance of the two methods of dating used by archaeologists to understand the past. Provide an example for each of the methods.

The two methods of dating that Archaeologists use to understand the past are relative and absolute dating. Relative dating is important because it provides archaeologists the ability to put certain events in order without knowing the exact age. An example of relative dating would be stratigraphy, which is looking at the sediment deposit layers in the ground and understanding that the deeper ones are older. Absolute dating is important because it can provide us with an exact age of a fossil. A common method of Carbon dating is radiometric dating when you can measure how much an isotope of a radioactive substance has decayed in order to find the exact age.

periphery

The weakest structural and economic position in the world system.

Describe the world-system theory by describing it as well as naming and discussing all its components.

The world system theory is a theory that describes how all the components of a society are interdependent and all the societies of the world are interdependent and make up one large global society. While the world system theory does discuss the sharing of culture globally, it does not claim that the world is moving towards a single shared culture. There are three types of nations in the world system:Core- large nations that own lots of wealthSemi-periphery- largely industrialized nation that has less wealth and political power than core nationsPeriphery- poorest and least privileged nations of the world, produce raw materials and human labor to export to other nations

Which of the following is true about human genetic diversity?

There is more genetic diversity within presumed races than between them

What are some of the reasons that explain the existence and acceptance in some societies and cultures of plural marriages, whether polygyny or polyandry?

There is no singular reason that plural marriages exist but may speculate that it's largely because of political reasons, to equalize sex ratios, and ensure economic cooperation. A common advantage of plural marriages is to reduce serial monogamy, or when people feel limited to one spouse thus there a far higher divorce rates.

What are the three cultural factors that best correlate to female gender status and hierarchies in society? What activities, abilities, and/or descent principles seem to determine the status of women the most?

Three cultural factors that best correlate to female gender status is descent principles, economic roles, and domestic & public roles. The cultural view on the domestic-public dichotomy largely influences the status of women. The domestic-public dichotomy is the differentiation between the home and the outside the world. For example, if woman is primarily viewed as a homemaker or a child bearer than she will have little social status and will not be valued in the labor force.

Briefly discuss the three different paths of hominin evolution. Describe each path separately by discussing where it was happening, how the evolving species are marked by the four hominin evolutionary trends, as well as naming as many species as you can.

Three paths for Australopithecines.East Africa: A. Anamensis, A. Afarensis, A Boisei- increasing bipedalism, small cranial capacity, no artifacts, changes in teeth/jawSouth Africa: A. Afarensis, A. Africanus, A robustus. small cranial capacity, smaller jaw, increasing bipedalism, no artifacts.East Africa: A. Africanus - Homo Genus evolves. Larger cranial capacity, smaller jaw, ,increased bipedalism and material culture

Why do anthropologist use cultural relativism to explain shared human behaviors?

To combat ethnocentrism and to view certain cultures from a different angle in order to grasp a deeper understanding of their life and behaviors.

Au. Gahri

Toolmaking Australopithecus species (2.6-2.5 m.y.a.), Ethiopia.

Culture

Traditions and customs transmitted through learning.

Stone tool manufacture and the expansion of the hominin brain came after

Upright Bipedal Locomotion

Based on the textbook, which of the following factors affected both the rise and the fall of ancient chiefdoms and states?

Warfare

How is human communication that we call language different in comparison to non-human communication, particularly given the human verbal traits?

When humans use language we are able to discuss events and things that have happened. We are able to string together thoughts unlike primates who are unable to combine expressions or develop new meanings.

Why do biological anthropologists study non-human primates from the past? Who are the living primates who are most closely related to us and how do they inform us about human evolution?

When these scientists delve into non-human primates from long ago, we develop an understanding for how we have branched off from our common ancestors. Our closest living primate relatives are Chimpanzees and Bonobos. By researching the ways in which these animals communicate and interact with their environment we can learn alot about our origin of language, social hierarchies, and many innate things that some people never even think to question.

Human Language

a communication system specific to Homo sapiens; it is open and symbolic, has rules of grammar, and allows its users to express abstract and distant ideas

reciprocity continuum

a continuum running from generalized reciprocity (closely related/deferred return) to negative reciprocity (strangers/immediate return)

social control

a group's formal and informal means of enforcing its norms

anthropological definition of family

a kinship network represents the social links between individuals which are defined by biology and social customs (marriage)

affinial relationship

a kinship relationship established through marriage and/or alliance, not through biology or common descent

Brachiation

a method of movement that uses the arms to swing from branch to branch

balanced reciprocity

a mode of exchange in which the giving and the receiving are specific as to the value of the goods and the time of their delivery

Nation

a politically organized body of people under a single government

ritual

a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order.

political system

a set of interrelated institutions that links people with government

achieved status

a social position a person takes on voluntarily that reflects personal ability and effort

plural society

a society in which different cultural groupls keep their own identity, beliefs, and traditions

Lobola

a substantial marital gift from the husband and his kin to the wife and her kin

Think about what you talked about in the in-class discussion on race and ethnicity. First, how do cultural biases impact everybody's behavior? Second, apply these concepts, Focal Vocabularies, Sapir-Whorf hypothesis and, Hegemony, to American society by answering the question of how does our shared American focal vocabulary of Race shape how people act and think and reflect the internalized hegemonic structures?

a. Often the focal vocabularies describing race in the United States are terms that refer solely to skin tone (ex black, white, yellow) and are often considered derogatory or offensive. This may be a reflection of the American past where there were many great racial tensions and divides.b. According to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, language shapes the way people see the world. Thus our focal vocabularies may be indicative the US has not yet fully overcome these racial barriers and prejudice.c. Hegemony occurs when inequalities become naturalized. The casual use of these derogatory words exemplify how racial divides have become the societal norms in the United States.

Discuss the relevance of anthropology for modern global society. Think about applied anthropology, modern cultural interactions, and culture change. What modern global economic, social, and/or political issue may be better understood or impacted by anthropological research (you need to provide a specific example)?

a. Understanding our anthropological past can help us solve our contemporary issues especially in a world where culture is constantly exchanged and evolving.b. anthropologists study, understand, and respect diverse cultural values which qualifies the to suggest, plan, and implement policies that effect all people. One example of this is controversies surrounding the native American education system like should native American children be required to go to traditional public schooling or should they receive their own government funded schooling on reserves that is tailored to the curriculum they deem valuable. Because anthropologists understand their past, traditions, and values, they may be a unbiased influence in what regulations should be implemented.

Which fields do Applied anthropologists NOT work in?

academic/research anthropology

An anthropological understanding of ethnicity and race requires exploring how people and institutions define, negotiate, and even challenge their identities in society. One way anthropologists—and social scientists in general—do this is by studying status, which refers to

any position, no matter what its prestige, that someone occupies in society.

2 orientations of anthropology

applied and academic

Emic

approach of studying a culture's behavior from the perspective of an insider

Etic

approach of studying a culture's behavior from the perspective of an outsider

4 subfields of anthropology

archaeology, biological, cultural, linguistic

Thomson's Nose Rule

average nose length increases in cold areas

Anthropology's _____ provides knowledge and an outlook on the world that are useful in many kinds of work.

breadth

Non-human communication

call systems --instinctive sounds or gestures --simple use of language symbolism

general reciprocity

complete sharing; I have, you need, I give; primary economic form in households everywhere, and in band societies

Which of the following are the three overarching concepts of anthropology?

culture, evolution, environment

constructed race

different cultures categorize race differently

lineal relatives

direct line of descent

World Systems Theory

economic and political connections that tie the world's countries together

Which of the following is a possible reason for the evolutionary selection of bipedalism?

environmental change long distance travel ability to carry items reduce solar radiation

Ethnicity vs. Race

ethnicity: Identity with a group of people that share distinct physical and mental traits as a product of common heredity and cultural traditions. race: Identity with a group of people descended from a common ancestor.

Biochemical Genetics

examines structure, function, and changes in DNA

negative reciprocity

exchange conducted for the purpose of material advantage and the desire to get something for nothing

Which of the following examples best illustrates a lineage?

families in Spartanburg, SC who meet once every four years because of shared claims of descent to a specific male ancestor who was named James "Tyger" Anderson.

Today's ecological anthropology, also known as environmental anthropology, attempts not only to understand environmental problems but also to

find solutions, acknowledging that ecosystems management involves multiple levels.

Anthropological Fieldwork

firsthand or direct immersion and observation of the people or culture a researcher is trying to understand (Ethnography)

descent group

group based on belief in shared ancestry

Taxon

group or level of organization into which organisms are classified

Given our second group in-class discussion, in regards to what Dr. Lamoureux said and what you all discussed, how is evolution a scientific endeavor and intelligent design is not?

Evolution is a scientific endeavor because there is provable evidence that can back it up. There is no real evidence that can be provided to back up ID.

Morpheme

in a language, the smallest unit that carries meaning; may be a word or a part of a word (such as a prefix)

Where did the earliest domestication of animals and plants in the Middle East occur?

in the marginal zones next to the hilly flanks

world system

interdependent system of countries linked by economic and political competition

One of the reasons that General Anthropology is a North American concept because

interest in the origins and diversity of Native Americans brought together the four fields of anthropology.

protolanguage

language ancestral to several daughter languages

hegemony

leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others.

Haplogroup

lineage or branch of a genetic tree marked by one or more specific genetic mutations

Cultural resource management focuses on

managing the preservation of archaeological sites that are threatened by modern development.

anthropoid

manlike

H. sapiens sapiens

modern humans

gene flow

movement of alleles from one population to another

When a species adapts to its environment leading to a new species, it is called speciation. What does the process of adaptation and changing to the environment (when the best adapted species is most likely to reproduce) called?

natural selection

Which one of the following is not a member on one of the three Hominoid families?

old-world monkeys

Liminality

one stage in a rite of passage during which a ritual participant experiences a period of outsiderhood, set apart from normal society, that is key to achieving a new perspective on the past, future, and current community

How do domesticated plants differ from their wild counterparts?

outside normal range larger grains stay on changes in pollen and seed dispersal mechanisms

semi-periphery

places where core and periphery processes are both occurring; places that are exploited by the core but in turn exploit the periphery

Dowry

property or money brought by a bride to her husband on their marriage

Two methods for identifying fossil and speciation dates are:

relative dating and absolute dating

Incest taboos

rules against members of the same family having sex, marrying or producing children

descent systems

rules for assigning social identity based on how a specific culture defines ancestry

Archaeologists identify social complexity by looking at four broad categories of evidence, they are:

settlement patterns, artifacts, monumental architecture, burials

Analogies

similarities between organisms based strictly on common function, with no assumed common evolutionary descent

gracile

slender and graceful

ranked society

society with hereditary inequality but lacking social stratification

robust

strong and healthy

Morphology

study of form

Haplorhines

tarsiers, monkeys, apes, humans

Phomenes

the basic units of sound in language

Religion

the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.

culture change

the change in meanings that a people ascribe to experience and changes in their way of life

There are four kinship classification systems (i.e., kinship terminology/focal vocabularies) discussed in class. Name the four systems. Choose one system and answer the following three questions: How many kinship terms are used in the parental generation in this system? Which adaptive strategies are associated with this system? What is an example of a group that uses this system?

the four kinship classification systems are: lineal terminology, bifurcate merging terminology, generational terminology, and bifurcate collaterale terminology.a. four parental generation terms: mother, father, aunt, uncleb. correlated with bilateral descent, foraging and industrial, adaptive strategiesc. the Inuits

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

the idea that different languages create different ways of thinking

Which of the following was studied by Sapir and Whorf?

the influence of language on thought

cultural relativism

the practice of judging a culture by its own standards

gender

the socially constructed roles and characteristics by which a culture defines male and female

archaeology

the study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains.

Primatology

the study of living nonhuman primates as well as primate fossils to better understand human evolution and early human behavior

cultural categories

the taken for granted categories used to perceive people, things, or activities as belonging to one group/type or another

Domestication

the taming of animals for human use, such as work or as food

kinship system

the totality of kin relations, kin groups, and terms for classifying kin in a society

magic

the use of spells, incantations, words, and actions in an attempt to compel supernatural forces to act in certain ways, whether for good or for evil

focal vocabulary

the words and terminology that develop with particular sophistication to describe the unique cultural realities experienced by a group of people

Traditionally, in some areas of the former Yugoslavia, people lived in an extended family household called a zadruga rather than in nuclear families. Among the Nayar in southern India, it was typical for people to live in matrilineal extended family compounds called tarawads. Descriptions of these two culturally specific cases highlight how

there are many alternatives to the nuclear family.

Primatology helps anthropologists make inferences about the early social organization of hominids and untangle issues of human nature and the origins of culture. Of particular relevance to these types of questions are two kinds of primates:

those whose ecological adaptations are similar to our own (terrestrial monkeys and apes), and those most closely related to us, the great apes (chimpanzees and gorillas).

To what does code switching (style shifts) refer?

varying one's speech in different social contexts

What is included in the anthropological definition of the arts?

visual arts, music, performance, literature, and storytelling

mode of production

way of organizing production

Sedentism

when people began living permanently in one place instead of moving around to find food

Which of the following is NOT an example of non-industrial adaptive strategies?

Factory Production

What are some of the factors (consequences and the benefits) that various people around 10-12,000 years ago throughout the world could have reacted to when deciding to both create and adopt new adaptive strategies of domestication and sedentism?

Farming provides a more predictable food source. Domestication and sedentism is less damaging to the body. Farmers needed less land to survive. Provided more social opportunities.Consequences include being susceptible to disasters, and an increase in labor.

You recently graduated from UGA with a degree in anthropology and an archaeology certificate. Your new CRM employer has a big road contract and wants you to help assess the archaeological resource impact. What fieldwork techniques are you going to use?

First I would want to survey the area in which I want to conduct my archeological research, secondly, I would grid the area in which I would like to excavate. Finally, I would excavate the surface and recover artifacts.

Daenerys T is cultural anthropology graduate student studying the Dothraki culture. Name AND define three ethnographic techniques that Daenerys can use in her fieldwork to study the Dothraki.

First, Daenerys T could consult with an expert on the Dothraki culture to obtain a baseline understanding of how their culture functions. This baseline understanding would be absolutely helpful when moving into her next step, which should be to immerse herself in the culture through participant observation. Finally, she will want to conduct structured, organized interviews to collect even more data. Each of these techniques will lead to Daenerys conducting great fieldwork.

Which of the following is not characteristic complex society?

Foraging

Speciation

Formation of new species

Which of the following scholars had an important role in establishing unity of general anthropology in the USA?

Franz Boaz

Recall our last in-class discussion on cultural concepts of gender and gender types. Please quickly describe the anthropological understanding of gender. How do gender categories used in Hawaiian culture fit in this description? How does this idea of alternative or third genders compare to how in the U.S. we use our gender categories and focal vocabulary of gender?

Gender is a cultural construction of sexual differences, includes shared ideas about categories female to male based both in biology and culture. In Hawaiian culture, gender has always been viewed on a general spectrum female to male and those who find themselves in the middle have a unique or individual role and purpose in society. In American culture, gender has not always been so fluid and males & females have assumed specific roles defined by cultural expectations. However, America does appear to be moving towards a more accepting, open, and fluid view on gender and gender roles.

Au. africanus

Gracile Australopithecus species (3.5-2.5 m.y.a.), South Africa

Which of the following are considered primate evolutionary traits?

Grasping Smell to site and Nose to hand Brain complexity and parental investment Sociality

The late hominins that lived between H. erectus and the Neandertals from roughly 850,000 and 200,000 B.P. were known as

H. heidelbergensis.

You learned about early state formation in several areas of the world from lecture and the textbook that includes the Middle East, Indus River Valley, African States, and Mesoamerica. Describe briefly one of these region's state formation, where you talk about population growth, expanding socio-political systems, and reasons for that growth.

Harrappan Civilization in the Indus valley. Large settlement in Mohenjo-Daro. Reasons for growth is speculated to be because of trade. Built large public structures and organized neighborhoods. Public bathing and sewer systems. Invented a wheel and written script.

Which term refers to a social order in which subordinates accept hierarchy as "natural"?

Hegemony

Homonin

Hominids excluding the African apes; all the human species that ever have existed.

Given the first discussion we had in class for this unit, how does thinking about species hybridization help us better understand hominin evolution and human variation?

Hominin evolution included interspecies breeding. Since we know some human ancestors interbred with Neanderthals, it helps explains how certain traits could be selected for and how hominins were able to adapt to certain environments.

What is the eco-niche that Homo erectus first adapted to? Discuss at least 4 environmental, adaptive traits it had for that econiche. The traits can be anatomical or behavioral factors that are relevant to explain why H. erectus was successful in this eco-niche.

Homo Erectus was able to make tools and actually hunt for food, making it the first homo to do so. 1 Long Distance Endurance 2 Big Brain 3 Community 4 Fire

Marrying someone in a similar social position is called

Homogamy

What is Social Control in the political process? Name at least 2 ways we see how social control functions in a society and provide cultural examples.

How systems of power maintain social interactions / how societies manage themselves1) Formal control (political systems)-Threat of force2) Informal political institutions-Lack threat of force-U.S. political parties

Children growing up in the high Andes Mountains produce more red blood cells than their parents, who grew up in the lowlands, did as children. This is an example of

Human Biological Plasticity

Which of the following is true about race?

Human biological variation is influenced by environmental factors such as altitude and proximity to the equator.

Your friend, who has yet to take this course, tells you that humans first domesticated animals because we became sedentary and no longer wanted to hunt for our meat. You know something that conflicts with their claim, which is:

Humans first domesticated dogs before sedentary lifestyles became widespread.

Which of the following societies are most likely to be have or be closest to equal male and female status?

Hunters and Gathers

The ecological niche that separated H. erectus from other hominins probably involved a greater reliance on

Hunting and Gathering

Archaeologists have given at least four different explanations about why and how complex societies arose. Please briefly describe and name one of those explanations and provide a name of a Primary State culture or region from the lectures or your readings that fits the theory.

Hydraulic systems. Irrigation. As societies increased in size, a need for more food grew. Irrigation systems became necessary to facilitate this and water resources needed management. Regulators arose and enhanced state authority by managing hydraulic systems. Mesopotamia.

Ethnicity

Identity with a group of people that share distinct physical and mental traits as a product of common heredity and cultural traditions.

independent assortment

Independent segregation of genes during the formation of gametes

Industrial and non-industrial societies ideas about art

Industrial - More interpretive Non-Industrial - Serves Purpose

How do industrial and non-industrial societies differ in terms of creating, producing, learning, and appreciating art?

Industrial societies view art as more of a past time or something to enjoy, and refer to some are as more "fine art" which is made to have a deeper meaning. The creators of industrial art are looked at as very professional people and takes a great deal of skill to replicate, meanwhile non-industrial art is often used as an offering to spirits or gods from common people or as a way to express current emotions (ancient cave art). Art often contains deeper meanings when the society is generally self sufficient and that comes from being industrial. + Individual expression (industrial)

Communitas

Intense community spirit, a feeling of great social solidarity, equality, and togetherness; characteristic of people experiencing liminality together

What is the name for the theory that suggests that there is not one evolutionary path for a given cultural phenomenon and that, instead, the cultural phenomenon could be the result of any number of paths?

Interpretive Anthropology

Which of the following statements about religion is NOT true?

It is a cultural construction, therefore not real

What is the difference between kin terms and biological types (genealogical kin types in textbook)? Why would an anthropologist want to make such a distinction?

Kin terms are words used for different relatives in a particular language and language and system of kinship calculation, they are largely based on cultural and linguistic roots. Genealogical kin types, by contrast, refer to biology, an actual genealogical relationship. Understanding the biological relationship between families helps anthropologist understand how families were formed from a cultural and evolutionary stand poi

Relationship of language and culture

Language is a communication system and carrier of culture by virtue of being simultaneously the means and carrier of memory

What is the relationship between language and culture; briefly describe how anthropologists understand that relationship and provide an example of that relationship with a focal vocabulary that is focused on a single culture's particular experience and/or activity (it can be yours or another's)?

Language reflects culture in a reciprocal relationship, and an example would be a fan of a certain movie series using phrases from that given show.

Paranthropus boisei

Late, hyperrobust East African australopiths (2.3-1.4 m.y.a.).

Homo floresiensis is one of the species of the genus Homo that followed a different path of evolution. Why is that?

Limited resources on a bounded island environment resulted in a small body size.

Cultural Hearth

Locations on Earth's surface where specific cultures first arose.

parallel vs cross cousins

• Parallel cousins: children of two brothers or two sisters • Cross cousins: children of a brother and a sister