Anthropology
Anthropology notes
From fossils and genetics to kinship, religion and tribal India, cut down to what an answer actually uses. 41 topics, free with your account.
Foundations of Anthropology
1Meaning, Scope and Development of AnthropologyMeaning and scope of anthropology, its development as a discipline, relationships with other disciplines: social sciences, behavioral sciences, life sciences, medical sciences, earth sciencesMeaning & ScopeDevelopment as a DisciplineRelationship with Social Sciences+22Main Branches of AnthropologyPhysical / Biological Anthropology, Social / Cultural Anthropology, Archaeological Anthropology, and Linguistic Anthropology: scope and interrelationsPhysical & Biological AnthropologySocial & Cultural AnthropologyArchaeological Anthropology+1
Physical Anthropology
3Human Evolution and Emergence of ManOrganic evolution, theories of evolution: Lamarckism, Darwinism, Synthetic Theory; palaeontological evidence; evolutionary history of primates; Australopithecines; Homo erectus; archaic and anatomically modern Homo sapiensOrganic Evolution: TheoriesPalaeontological EvidenceOrder Primates+54Biological Basis of LifeCell, DNA, RNA, protein synthesis, genetic code; Mendelian genetics, chromosomal theory of heredity, sex determination, linkage, crossing over, gene mutationCell Structure & FunctionDNA, RNA & Protein SynthesisGenetic Code+55Human GeneticsMethods of human genetics: pedigree, twin, cytogenetic, biochemical; genetics of ABO, Rh blood groups; HLA system; eugenics and euphenics; population genetics: Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium; consanguinity; genetic disorders: chromosomal and MendelianMethods of StudyPedigree & Twin StudiesABO & Rh Blood Groups+76Concept of Race and RacismBiological basis of racial classifications; typological vs population concept of race; racism and its critique; racial elements in Indian population: racial affinitiesRace: Biological Basis & ClassificationTypological vs Population ConceptRacism & Scientific Critique+17Concept of Human Growth and DevelopmentStages of growth: infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood; factors influencing growth: genetic, hormonal, environmental, nutritional; concept of secular trend; relevance of menarche, menopause and other bioevents to fertility patternsStages of GrowthFactors Influencing GrowthSecular Trend+28Applicability of Biosocial PerspectivesHuman adaptation: acclimatisation, high altitude, heat and cold, Bergmann's and Allen's rules. Epidemiological anthropology and disease patterns, nutritional anthropology, occupational health and ergonomics, bioarchaeology, forensic anthropologyHuman AdaptationHigh Altitude AdaptationEpidemiological Anthropology+4
Archaeological Anthropology
9Principles of Prehistoric ArchaeologyObjectives and principles of prehistoric archaeology; typology of stone tools; chronology: relative and absolute dating methods; archaeological excavation techniques; cultural stratigraphyObjectives & PrinciplesStone Tool TypologyRelative Dating Methods+310Cultural Evolution and Prehistoric CulturesPalaeolithic (Lower, Middle, Upper), Mesolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age cultures: subsistence patterns, tools, social organization and emergence of food productionLower Palaeolithic CultureMiddle Palaeolithic CultureUpper Palaeolithic Culture+4
Socio-Cultural Anthropology
11Nature of CultureConcept, definitions, characteristics of culture; culture and civilization; material and non-material culture; cultural relativism and ethnocentrism; enculturation and acculturation; nature–culture debateConcept & Definitions of CultureCulture vs CivilizationMaterial & Non-Material Culture+312Nature of SocietyConcept of society and social structure; community and association; norms and institutions; concepts of role, status and social group; types of societies: band, tribe, chiefdom, stateSociety & Social StructureCommunity & AssociationNorms & Institutions+213Marriage, Family and KinshipDefinitions and functions of marriage; rules of marriage: endogamy, exogamy, preferential mating; forms of marriage; family: types, functions, evolution; household; kinship: consanguinity and affinity, descent theories, kinship terminologyMarriage: Definition & FunctionsRules & Forms of MarriageFamily: Types & Functions+514Economic OrganizationMeaning of economic anthropology; subsistence economies; production, distribution and exchange: reciprocity, redistribution, market; formalism and substantivism debate; gift economy; food foraging to food productionMeaning of Economic AnthropologySubsistence EconomiesProduction, Distribution & Exchange+315Political Organization and Social ControlConcepts of power, authority and legitimacy; band, tribal, chiefdom and state level organizations; political anthropology; social control: formal and informal; law and legal anthropology; conflict resolutionPower, Authority & LegitimacyBand & Tribal Political OrganizationChiefdom & State Level Organization+416ReligionAnthropological approaches to religion: animism, animatism, totemism; myth and ritual; magic, religion and science; shamanism; ancestors and spirit worship; world religions and local traditions; sacred and profaneAnimism, Animatism & TotemismMyth & RitualMagic, Religion & Science+417Anthropological TheoriesClassical evolutionism: Tylor, Morgan; diffusionism: British, German; historical particularism: Boas; functionalism: Malinowski; structural-functionalism: Radcliffe-Brown; culture and personality school; neo-evolutionism; structuralism: Lévi-Strauss; symbolic and interpretive anthropology; post-modernism in anthropologyClassical Evolutionism (Tylor, Morgan)DiffusionismHistorical Particularism (Boas)+718Culture, Language and CommunicationLanguage and culture: Sapir-Whorf hypothesis; origins of language; linguistic anthropology; non-verbal communication; ethnolinguistics; sociolinguistics; language and cognitionLanguage & CultureSapir-Whorf HypothesisOrigins of Language+3
Methods
19Research Methods in AnthropologyFieldwork tradition; participant observation; ethnographic methods; qualitative vs quantitative methods; genealogical method; interview techniques; case study; PRA; reflexivity and ethics in fieldworkFieldwork Tradition in AnthropologyParticipant ObservationEthnographic Methods+420Applications of AnthropologyApplied anthropology: scope and relevance; development anthropology; medical anthropology; nutritional anthropology; forensic anthropology; urban anthropology; disaster anthropology; advocacy and action anthropologyApplied Anthropology: Scope & HistoryDevelopment AnthropologyMedical Anthropology+4