LEARNING OUTCOME #4
recognise and define key terms in anthropology
anthropological perspective
evolutionary, holistic, and comparative methods applied to the study of humans
lecture 1. pg. 2
homininae
the biological family to which humans belong
lecture 1. pg. 6
paleonathropology
the study of early humans, using both archaeology and biological anthropology
lecture 3. pg. 74
bipedalism
moving mostly by using two legs
lecture 3. pg.84
enthnocentrism
the idea that our own customs are normal while the customs of others are strange, wrong or even disgusting
lecture 4. pg. 185
fieldwork
a way in which cultural anthropologists study culture by living with another group of people for an extended period of time to learn firsthand how the group views the world and behaves within it.
lecture 4. pg. 191
participant observation
a process in which a research lives with people and observes their regular activities, often for a year or more
lecture 4, pg. 192
signs
something that stands for something else
lecture 5. pg. 201.
language
a symbolic system expressing meaning through sounds or gestures
lecture 5. pg. 200
lower paleolithic
describes the peoples and cultures associated with Homo habilis and Homo ierectus
lecture 6. pg. 105
middle paleolithic
describes the peoples and cultures associated with Archaic Homo sapiens, Homo hiedelbergensis, and Neandertals
lecture 6. pg. 105
upper paleolithic
describes the peoples and cultures that replaced Neandertals in Europe beginning about 40,000 years ago
lecture 6. pg. 105
oldowan
associated with Homo habilis and were made from cobblestone with a few several flakes struck off one side of one end, creating a uniifacial tool
lecture 6. pg. 112
alcheulean
tools associated with Homo erectus, and were bifacial meaning that flakes were taken off both sides
lecture 6. pg. 112
food production
transforming the environment with the goal of producing food using farming and/or animal husbandry
ecture 7. pg. 123
domestication
shaping the evolution of plant and animal species for human use
ecture 7. pg. 133
agriculture
a farming technique that can support a large population, using advanced tools and irrigation, and requiring more preparation and maintenance of the soil; also known as intensive cultivation
lecture 7. pg. 133
civilization
a type of society characterized by a state-level of political organization, a system of writing, at least one city, and monumental architecture
lecture 8. pg. 148
food ways
the methods, knowledge, and practices regarding food in a particular society
lecture 9. pg. 226
reciprocity
a set of social rules that govern the specialized sharing of food and other items
lecture 9. pg. 231
redistribution
an economic system in which goods and money flow into a central entity, such as a governmental authority or a religious institution
lecture 9. pg. 231
market exchange
surplus goods are sold, in exchange for money, on the open market, with prices dictated by supply and demand
lecture 9. pg. 231
political organization
the way that society maintains order internally and manages affairs externally
lecture 10. pg. 284
externalized controls
rules that regulate behaviour by encouraging conformity to social norms; may be negative or positive
lecture 10. pg. 287
uncentralized system
a political system with no centralized governing body in which decisions are made by the community
lecture 10. pg. 289
centralized system
a political system with a centralized governing body that has the power and authority to govern
lecture 10. pg. 289
bands
groups of 50 to 100 individuals who rely on hunting and gathering as their main means of subsistence; uncentralized power and informal sanctions used
lecture 10. pg. 289
tribes
a type of political organization with an uncentralized power structure, often seen among horticulturalists or pastoralists
lecture 10. pg. 290
chiefdoms
a type of political organization found in settlements of typically from a few thousand to tens of thousands of people, characterized by social inequality and hereditary leadership, and based on horticulture
lecture 10. pg. 291
state
a type pf political organization in a highly populated, industrial society with strong centralized government
lecture 10. pg. 291
three pillars of sustainability
a model os sustainable development with three components: sustainability of environment, society, and economy
lecture 11. pg. 336
tragedy of the commons
the idea that individual actors sharing a natural resource will inevitably act in their own best interest, eventually depleting the resource
lecture 11. pg. 338
food insecurity
not always having access to food; not knowing where the next meal might come from
lecture 11. pg. 338
environmental sustainability
the ability of the environment to renew resources and accommodate waste at the same rate at which resources are used and waste is generated
lecture 11. pg. 336
social sustainability
the ability of social systems to provide for the needs of their people so that they can attain a stable and healthy standard of living
lecture 11. pg. 337
social sustainability
the ability of the economy to support indefinite growth while ensuring a minimum quality of life for all members of society
lecture 11. pg. 337
