The Meaning of Anthropology

The Meaning of Anthropology
Anthropology is a science of humanity and its society. It is a scientific study of humanity, the similarities and diversity of cultures, and attempts to present an integrated picture of humankind.

Anthropology studies the biological, social and cultural development of humankind and seeks answers to why people are different and how they are similar. It has subdivisions linked by unifying themes. One can glean the vastness of the subject matter of anthropology by looking into its serious fields such as the following:

1. Biological or physical anthropology
2. Archeology
3. Cultural anthropology
4. Linguistics
5. Applied Anthropology

Biological or physical anthropology
This studies the evolution of man and biological variations or diversity within the species. Biological anthropologists are concerned with how biological changes occur and how all these are related to the natural and social environments of the subjects.

The study the biological processes of humans and their primate relatives in their natural and social environments.

A knowledge of human variation is important in understanding human adaptation.

Archeology
Archeology studies and reconstructs events of the past since the beginning of the culture through such cultural remains as tools, buildings and pot shards (broken pieces of pottery.)

The focus is on the discovery of people and looking into how cultures change occurs. Archeologists do this by excavating sites.
The Meaning of Anthropology