Anthro ProSem II: History of biological anthropology
- Syllabus
- Readings
- Overview
-
Biological anthropologists are evolutionary biologists as well as
anthropologists; they have intellectual ancestors in both disciplines.
We will trace this dual ancestry across three epochs:
- 1880-1920
- Darwin convinces scientists that life evolves, but they remain
skeptical about the role of natural selection. Biology fragments
into warring camps, and physical anthropology focuses on race.
- 1920-1950
- The "Modern Synthesis" emerges from the union of Darwinian theory
with Mendelian genetics and begins slowly to seep into physical
anthropology. Spectacular human fossils capture headlines.
- 1950-present
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Biological anthropology emerges from the union of physical
anthropology with evolutionary biology. Hitler gives race a bad name,
and sociobiology violates a truce. Spectacular human fossils continue
to capture headlines.