Anthropology short notes · Paper 1

Scope of Anthropology.

Scope of Anthropology.

Part of Meaning, Scope and development of Anthropology.

Short notes

Scope of Anthropology.

Definition

Scope spans four branches (CLAP) — Cultural, Linguistic, Archaeological and Physical anthropology — plus applied work in health, development, forensics and policy.

Example / case study

  • Medical anthropology explains why vaccination or healing behaviour differs by culture, not only by biology.
  • Forensic anthropology identifies human remains after disasters or crime, linking osteology to identity.

Thinkers

  • Franz Boas — four-field approach: biological, archaeological, linguistic and cultural study of humans together.
  • Ralph Piddington — mapped economic anthropology around production, distribution and consumption in social context.