Introduction to Anthropology

A classic anthropology textbook, profusely illustrated with photographs and charts, which covers all fields of anthropology, including human evolution, origin of races, archaeology, cultural evolution, and languages of the world. Originally published in 1974 by Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York, and formerly used in universities as a basic textbook, this book is now available only in used but good condition. The author follows an evolutionary approach, showing how all human behavior is shaped by genetics, culture, and environment. Contents include: The Evolutionary Background: "In the Beginning..."; Ecology and Adaptation - The Evolutionary Process; The Fish That Crawled; Mammals Supplant Reptiles; Into the Trees; Mammalian Social Life; In Search of the Missing Link; An African Eden?; The Man Who Walked Erect; The Coming of Homo sapiens; From Calipers to Biochemical Markers: Physical Anthropology Comes of Age; Classifying the Living Races. Ethnological Analysis: Culture and Society; Band, Tribe and Nation; Marriage and Kinship; Custom and Law; Economic Organization; Social Stratification; Magic and Taboo; Propitiating the Gods; The Esthetic Adventure. Ecological Adaptation: Studying Cultural Change; Marginal Survivors from the Paleolithic; Horticulturalists: Warlike and Peaceful; Fishing Societies; Simple Pastoralists; Advanced Pastoralists; Centralized Chieftanships; The Rise of Urban Civilization; Civilization in the Old and New World; Peasant Societies; Industrial Societies; Postscript: The Evidence of Language This book does not cover the latest advances in DNA research, but nevertheless provides still-valid, unbiased information about the evolutionary background of the living races of man, and the evolutionary history of human cultures worldwide.

I had the pleasure of being a student of the author. He is a fascinating scholar and professor of anthropology, which is his foundation for this book. It is a must for any student in anthropology, especially cultural anthropology. Each element of the basic culture traits that have evolved over the millennia are defined with clarity and excellent examples.