These anthropology test notes go over the Classical Greek era, epistemology in different cultures, archaeology and the church in the medieval era, anthropological advancements during the Renaissance (Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, Galileo), the Enlightenment age, discrimination in past societies, et...
Anthropology 480
Dr. Erickson
09/25/2017
Test Notes
1. The classical Greek era was a crucial time period for the beginning of anthropology. The
great scholars of this period developed a worldview relating to many components of society,
such as, science, philosophy, government, morality, and societal structure, all of which are still
studied today (Erickson and Murphy 2017).
The topic of societies working as systems inspired many scholars in the classical Greek
era. Plato believed that society functioned in order to meet human needs. Aristotle thought the
diversity within cultures was crucial to their functioning, and that individuals carried moral
responsibilities that they should follow. Democritus adhered to the notion that laws were
necessary because they worked to combat selfish behaviors, and that societies had not only man-
made laws but natural laws as well, to follow (Erickson 2016b).
Socialization and personality were also important topics to the Greeks, with Protagorus
believing in enculturation, that claimed that children must be educated to gain the values of
society. Plato formulated various personalities within social structures, like aristocracy being that
of moderation and respect, while Tyranny held the desire for gratification (Erickson 2016b).
In terms of the origins of cultures and development, Democritis promoted the idea that
humans began their existence with limited knowledge and tools, while over time, they succeeded
by working together in subsistence practices and language (Erickson 2016b).
With just three examples of prominent topics for this time period, it is easy to see many
ways in which our anthropology is similar to that of the Greek’s. We share the same ideas as
they did in many areas, such as, culture rooting from biological attributes in humans, social life
and language, function of societies and the individual’s role within it, and so on. The fact that the
Greeks were so advanced in their knowledge of science and humans is what brings many people
to believe the history of anthropology began in 400 BC Greece (Erickson 2016b).
2. Epistemology is a term that can be defined as the foundation of knowledge. World view
being the perspective one has on the world around them, as they know it. These two elements
have gone hand-in-hand with each other throughout humanity. One’s world view directly
influences epistemology, not only on an individual level, but on a societal one as well. Over
time, many have speculated as to how past societies past societies acquired their world view, and
how it was sustained (Erickson 2016a).
For instance, the Medieval era, was characterized by the church and Christianity. People
believed that the world was very young, and that humanity had deteriorated in many ways. A
lack of care for the past and what came before them were key factors in their world view, as
well. The church, being the foundation of their knowledge, caused the people of the Medieval
time to carry a distinctly narrow world view (Erickson 2016c).
On the contrary, the classical period of Greece promoted knowledge to be founded in
mind and matter. With thinkers like Plato and Aristotle, this time period flourished with
philosophical and logical explanations of the world. Plato believed that the spirit was the true
reality, and that the soul was trapped inside the body. He studied the metaphysical world by
discovering reasons for the way physical thing behave, and then finding the principles that
guided these behaviors. Aristotle viewed things in the world within different categories, and
described properties of things. He used logic and science to develop theories of science. With
1
, such an open-minded view on the world, the classical Greek’s thinkers were able to find truth
and knowledge from different foundations, than those of the Medieval, for example (Erickson
2016b)
3. Archaeology has been shaped overtime in many ways, but in the Medieval era(5th – 15th
century), the field was drastically brought to a standstill due to the influences of Aquinas and
Augustine. The Greek philosophies were no longer taken seriously, as Christianity began to
engulf society in Europe with ultimate explanations becoming completely theological. This
paradigm brought about a shift where people were no longer interested in current customs of
other cultures and knowing their origins. These people lacked a true perspective in the history of
humanity and civilization because they believed the end of the world was imminent, and that the
age of humanity was relatively young (Erickson 2016c).
The Church certainly played the biggest role in keeping people away from finding
“truth”, but most of all, they condemned any sort of artifact collection. Naturally, this would
impede archaeology from expanding due to the lack of care, which derived from the church. This
type of thinking was fueled initially from Augustinian Christianity, which held that God was
perfect, and it was simply human nature to be sinful. Human nature was only to be studied by
God, not humans; yet another factor leading to the decline of anthropology in this time period.
Europeans also believed that society had deteriorated so much and that Jesus was bound to return
to Earth in the near future. (Erickson and Murphy 2017).
The Renaissance differed drastically as it altered scholars’ opinions when they studied
reality and science. Even though the church was still a priority, it was no longer the main focus
(Erickson 2016d).
5. During the Renaissance, many advancements were made that forced people to begin to
think in more scientific terms. Interest for the naturalistic studies became prominent, as well as
scientific curiosities and mathematics. People began to develop nationalistic feelings, and
became prideful of who they were as a people, contradictory to the medieval period which
preceded this era (Erickson 2016d)
Tycho Brahe (1546 – 1601) was a profound part of this shift. He was an astronomer for
the King and was given an island to study on. During his life, he discovered that earth is tilted on
an axis and found the angle of it using mathematics. Johannes Kepler (1571 – 1630), an assistant
to Brahe, discovered that planetary orbits were elliptical, not circles, as was previously thought.
Galileo (1564 – 1642), a prominent innovator of the telescope, wrote a book on our heliocentric
universe – an idea that differed from the previously thought earth-centered universe (Erickson
2016d).
These few discoveries made during the Renaissance were not only profound for science
and mathematics, but they revolutionized the way people differentiate between religion and
science. This became difficult for Christians in this period because these findings were, at some
points, contradictory to the biblical teachings, and what was previously accepted as truth
(Erickson 2016d).
6. The Renaissance (1400 – 1700) was a time period where people began to appreciate
history and past societies (Erickson 2016d). The actual word, “renaissance,” is rooted from a
French word, literally meaning, “rebirth” (Dictionary.com 2017). It was a time where society had
2
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller rachellipson16. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $10.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
