Orientation To Anthropology
Orientation To Anthropology
Orientation To Anthropology
Lecture 1 & 2
BY
Dr Huma Hassan
Gold Medalist ( Centre of Social Sciences)
Jawaharlal Nehru University PLUTUS IAS
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In the 1920s in California, astronomer Edwin Hubble
observed distant galaxies using an extremely powerful
telescope . He made two mind-boggling discoveries.
First, Hubble figured out that the Milky Way isn’t the
only galaxy. He realized that faint, cloud-like objects in
the night sky are actually other galaxies far, far away.
The Milky Way is just one of billions of galaxies.
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Second, Hubble discovered that the galaxies are constantly
moving away from each other. In other words, the universe is
expanding. The biggest thing that we know about is getting bigger all
the time.
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A few years later, Belgian astronomer Georges Lemaître
used Hubble‘s amazing discoveries to suggest an
answer to a big astronomy question: How did the
universe begin?
The Big Bang was the moment 13.8 billion years ago
when the universe began as a tiny, dense, fireball that
exploded. Most astronomers use the Big Bang theory
to explain how the universe began. But what caused
this explosion in the first place is still a mystery.
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Since the Big Bang, the universe has been expanding.
In the early years, everything was made of gas. This
gas, mostly hydrogen and helium, expanded and
cooled. Over billions of years, gravity caused gas and
dust to form galaxies, stars , planets, and more.
The matter that spread out from the Big Bang developed
into everything in the universe, including you. You are
made of star stuff!
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Formation
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The solar nebula collapsed due to its
overwhelming gravity, it spun faster and flattened
to a disk.
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Our home planet Earth is a rocky, terrestrial
planet. It has a solid and active surface with
mountains, valleys, canyons, plains and so much
more.
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Earth's atmosphere is made mostly of nitrogen
and has plenty of oxygen for us to breathe.
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● Mankind
● Diversity
● Holism
● Time and Space
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● Anthropology, the study
of humanity, is guided
by a central narrative
and set of research
commitments.
● Anthropology aims to
overcome bias by
examining cultures as
complex, integrated
products of specific
environmental and
historical conditions.
● Anthropologists use
many different
research strategies in
their efforts to represent
people from cultures
very different from their
own.
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Sections of Lecture
Introduction to the
Anthropology
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Roots of Anthropology
● Anthropology explores controversial topics that may challenge individual
assumptions and values.
● The goal is to understand the full experience of humanity, including
elements that may seem unfamiliar or uncomfortable.
● Anthropology teaches a set of skills for setting aside personal perspectives
and keeping an open mind while learning about the diversity of human
practices and ideas.
● This does not mean abandoning individual personal values, but rather
suspending judgment temporarily while learning to understand the
perspectives of others.
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Outcome of the subject
● Biology and culture of Man.
● How Human being are different from other living being.
Years ago, the anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked by a
student what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a
culture. The student expected Mead to talk about clay pots, tools for
hunting, grinding-stones, or religious artifacts.
But no. Mead said that the first evidence of civilization was a 15,000
years old fractured femur found in an archaeological site. A femur is
the longest bone in the body, linking hip to knee. In societies without
the benefits of modern medicine, it takes about six weeks of rest for a
fractured femur to heal. This particular bone had been broken and
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Mead explained that in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg,
you die. You cannot run from danger, you cannot drink or hunt for
food. Wounded in this way, you are meat for your predators. No
creature survives a broken leg long enough for the bone to heal. You
are eaten first.
A broken femur that has healed is evidence that another person has
taken time to stay with the fallen, has bound up the wound, has
carried the person to safety and has tended them through recovery. A
healed femur indicates that someone has helped a fellow human,
rather than abandoning them to save their own life.
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Conceptual Understanding of the discipline
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Why entering into the subject is difficult ?
● Conceptual Clarity
● Interdisciplinary
● Syllabus
Solution
Basic Concepts
Answer Writing
Previous Years Questions
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Myths and Facts about the Subject
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Book List
1. Physical Anthropology- P. Nath ( Not compulsory)
2. Indian Society continuity and Change- Nadeem Hasnain
3. Tribal Anthropology- Nadeem Hasnain
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Syllabus
1.1 Meaning, scope and development of Anthropology.
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1.4 Evolutionary trend and classification of the order Primates, Relationship with other
mammals, molecular evolution of Primates, Comparative anatomy of man and apes,
primate locomotion;-terrestrial and arboreal adaptation, skeletal changes due to erect
posture and its implications
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2.3 Marriage: Definition, types and variation of marriage systems. Debates
on the universal definition of marriage. Regulation of marriage-preferential,
prescriptive, proscriptive and open systems. Types and form of marriage
Dowry, bride-price, pestation and marriage stability.
3.1 Study of culture, patterns and processes. Concept of culture, patterns of
culture, relationships between culture and civilization and society.
3.2 Concept of Social Change and Cultural Change:
3.3 Social structure and social organization, Role-analysis and social
network. Institutions, groups community. Social stratification: principles and
form, status, class and power, gender. Nature and types of mobility.
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3.4 Concept of Society.
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4.1 Definitions and functions of religion. Anthropological
approaches to the study of religion-evolutionary, psychological and
functional. Magic, witchcraft and sorcery; definitions and functions
and functionaries: priest, saman, medicine man and sorcerers.
Symbolism in religion and rituals. Ethnomedicine. Myths and rituals:
definitions and approaches to their study-structural, functional and
processual Relation with economic and political structures
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5.1 Meaning, scope and relevance, principles governing production,
distribution and consumption in communities subsisting on
hunting-gathering, fishing, pastoralism, horticulture and other
economic pursuits. Fomalist and substantivist debate-Dalton,
Karl-polyanny and Marx approach and New Economic
Anthropology. Exchange: gifts, barter, trade, ceremonial exchange
and market economy.
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7.1 Concept of research in anthroplogy, subjectivity and reflexivity in terms
of gender class, ideology and ethics. Distinction between methodology,
methods and techniques. Nature and explanation in anthropological
research. Positivistics and non-positivistic approaches. Comparative
methods; nature, purpose and methods of comparison in social and cultural
anthroplogy. Basic techniques of data collection. Interview, participant and
other forms of observation, schedules, questionnaire, case-study methods,
extended casestudy methods, life histories and seconday sources, oral
history, genealogical method, participatory, learning and assessment (PLA).
Participatory rapid assessment (PRA). Analysis, interpretation and
presentation of data.
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8.1 Concept, scope and major branches of human genetics. Its
relationship with other branches of science and medicine.
8.2 Method for study of genetic principles in man-family study
(pedegree analysis, twin study, foster child, co-twin method,
cytogenetic method, chromosomal and karyotype analysis),
biochemical methods, immunological methods, D.N.A.
technology and recombinant technologies.
8.3 Twin study method-zygosity, heritability estimates, present
status of the twin study method and its applications.
8.4 Mendelian genetics in man-family study, single factor,
multifactor, lethal, sub-lethal, and polygenic inheritance in man.
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8.5 Concept of genetic polymorphism and selection,
Mendelian population, Hardy-Weinberg law; causes and
changes which bring down frequency-mutation, isolation,
migration, selection, inbreeding and genetic drift.
Consanguineous and non-consanguineous mating, genetic
load, genetic effect of consanguineous and cousin
marriages (statistical and probability methods for study of
human genetics).
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8.6 Chromosomes and chromosomal aberrations in man,
methodology.
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8.7 Concept of race in histrogical and biological perspective. Race and racism,
biological basis of morphological variation of non-metric and metric characters.
Racial criteria, racial traits in relation to heredity and environment; biological
basis of racial classification, racial differentiation and race-crossing in man.
8.9 Age, sex and population variation in gentic marker-ABO, Rh blood groups,
HLA, Hp, transferrin, Gm, blood enzymes. Physiological characteristics-Hb
level, body fat, pulse rate, respiratory functions and sensory perceptions in
different cultural and socio-economic groups. Impact of smoking air pollutions,
alcoholism, drugs and occupational hazards on health.
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9.1 Concepts and Methods of Ecological Anthropology. Adaptation-social and cultural
Deterministic theories-a critique. Resources-biological, non-biological and sustainable
development. Biological adaptation-climatic, environmental, nutritional and genetic.
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12.2 Demographic theories-biological, social and cultural.
12.3 Demographic methods-census, registration system, sample
methods, duel reporting system.
12.4 Population structures and population dynamics.
12.5 Demographic rates and ratios, life table-structure and utility.
12.6 Biological and socio-ecological factors influencing fecundity,
fertility natality and mortality.
12.7 Methods of studying population growth.
12.8 Biological consequences of population control and family
welfare.
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13.1 Anthropology of sports
13.2 Nutritional Anthropology.
13.3 Anthropology in designing of defence and other equipments.
13.4 Forensic Anthropology.
13.5 Methods and principles of personal identification and reconstruction.
13.6 Applied human genetics-Paternity diagnosis genetic counselling and eugenics.
13.7 DNA technology-prevention and cure of diseases.
13.8 Anthropo-gentics in medicine
13.9 Serogenetics and cytogenetics in reproductive biology.
13.10 Application of statistical principles in human genetics and Physical Anthropology.
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Paper - 2
1. Evolution of the Indian Culture and Civilization-Pre historic (Paleolithic, Mesolithic and
2. Demographic profile of India - Ethnic and linguistic elements in the Indian population and
their distribution. Indian population - factors influencing its structure and growth.
3. The basic structure and nature of traditional Indian social system-a critique. Varnasharam,
Purushartha, Karma, Rina and Rebirth. Theories on the origin of caste system, Jajmani system.
Structural basis of inequality in traditional Indian society. Impact of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam
1. Biological Anthropology
2. Sociocultural Anthropology
3. Indian society- caste, religion,villages,linguistic and cultural
minorities and socio-cultural changes etc
4. Tribal Communities
5. Research related
6. Anthropological theories PLUTUS IAS
Biological Anthropology
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“Physical anthropology is a biological science that deals with the
adaptations, variability, and evolution of human beings and their
living and fossil relatives. Because it studies human biology in the
context of human culture and behavior, physical anthropology is
also a social science”
Physical Anthropology
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New Physical Anthropology: “Physical anthropology is a biological science
that deals with the adaptations, variability, and evolution of human beings and
their living and fossil relatives. Because it studies human biology in the context
of human culture and behavior, physical anthropology is also a social science”
Nearly 60 years ago, Sherwood Washburn issued a call for a “New Physical
Anthropology,” a transition from measurement and classification toward a focus on the
processes and mechanisms of evolutionary change. He advocated multidisciplinary and
interdisciplinary approaches to the understanding of human behavior, biology, and
history. Many interpret this as a call for a practice that is both biological and
anthropological. Is this what we do? Are we biological anthropologists yet?
ARTICLE WORTH READING
https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.21438
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● Traditional biological anthropology is the study of the past
and present evolution of the human species and is especially
concerned with understanding the causes of present human
diversity.
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● Human biology broadly covers the areas of
modern human biological variation, human
ecology, nutrition and demography.
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“The new physical anthropology has much to offer anyone interested
in the structure or evolution of man, but this is only the beginning.
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For me, this is a call for a Biological Anthropology; a
context in which both words (biological and anthropology)
are interacting and contributing synergistically rather than
merely complementing one another.
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● Biological basis of life
● Human genetics
● Mendelian genetics in man-family studies
● Concept of genetic polymorphism and selection
● Chromosome and chromosomal aberrations
● Age, sex and population variation
● Concept and method of ecological anthropology
● Epidemiological anthropology
● Human growth and development
● Race and racism
● Demographic theories profile of India
● Application of anthropology
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Social Anthropology
● Nature of Culture
● Nature of society
● Marriage
● Family
● Kinship
● Religion
● Economic Anthropology
● Political Anthropology
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Central Topics
● Varna Ashram
● Caste System
● Impact of different religions on Indian Societies
● Indian Villages
● Linguistic and religious minorities
● Indegenious and exogenous process of socio cultural
changes
Tribal Communities:
Tribal situations in India, problems,ethnicity,
administration, religious impact, tribes and nation state
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Research
● Research Method
● Fieldwork tradition in India
● Distinction between technology, method and
methodology
● Analysis, interpretation and presentation of data
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Anthropological Theories
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Lecture Plan
● What is Culture?
● What is society?
● What are Institutions?
In tribes people are progressive and in our society such marriages are not
acceptable. Anthropology opens up our view and makes you accept other
culture.
Among Neurs tribes, man marries a woman for his dead brother and child out of
their marriage belongs to the dead brother.
Among Azande( Central Africa) Man marries man. Anthropologist found that
there were less women and when Europeans come they abandon that sort of
marriage against christianity.
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Thus, we study various institutions- Observe, study the variations,
classify and build theory.
● Marriage
● Family
● Kinship
● Economy
● Political Organizations
● Communication
Anthropologist
Example: Malinowski examine human behaviour in its social and
cultural form.
● Their theories to explain
● Origin of Culture
● Behaviour of people with society
● Variation in Society
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Diffusion theories- Spreading of culture from society to other society.
According to British Anthropologist culture originate from only in Egypt,
no other part of culture is presented in any other part of the society.
Theories are built by travelers, adventurers and explorer.
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Part-2 Indian Culture and Society
● Indian Anthropologist
● Demography of Indian Population
● Nature of Indian traditional society
● Caste System
● Impact of other religion on Indian Society
● Village Studies
● Social change
● Minorities
● Exploitation of Marginalised section
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Part-3 Tribals of India and other Marginalised
Sections
● Classification
● Problems of Tribal India
● Forest policy
● Administration of tribal areas
● Contribution of anthropologist
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Part 4- Evolution- Cultural and Physical
Human- Cultural Evolution- Paleolithic
Mesolithic
Neolithic
Chalcolithic
Iron Age
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Part-5 Biological Anthropology
● Genetics is like a tool to understand biological Anthropology
● To understand how we evolved we got to study variations in human
and we would be studying genetics in this regards
● Mendelian Genetics- Inheritance of characters
● Chromosomal abnormalities in humans
● Race and racism
● Ecological Anthropology
● Epidemiological Anthropology
● Growth and development
● Fertility study
● Demographic theories
● Applied Anthropology
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Social Cultural Anthropology
● 1.5
● 2.1,2.2,2.3
● 3.1,3.2,3.3,3.4,3.5 Social Institutions
● 4.1,5.1,5.2
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Lesson plans
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Thank You
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