|
This section deals with scientific evidence for the origins and distribution of mankind. It should be noted that this is a rapidly changing field: the physical evidence is scanty and is subject to various possible interpretations. |
|
This subject includes studies of the origins and evolution of mankind.
1871 Darwin publishes his "Descent of Man"
This work is taken to mark the beginning of modern physical anthopology.
This deals with differences in the physical characteristics of mankind, including geographic races.
This deals chiefly with migration and mingling of racial groups.
|
This depends rather heavily on science. Physics and chemistry are only indirectly important. Astronomy has limited application to physical anthropology. Cosmology, galactic astronomy, and stellar astronomy have only limited usefulness for this subject. Planetary astronomy is the most useful area of study. Earth science including Geology, Hydrospheric science, atmospheric science, and physical geography is somewhat useful. Geohistory is useful for discussion of the Cenozoic era. Biology including molecular biology, cell biology, and organism biology may be useful. Systematics is useful, not so much for discussion of microbes, protists, plants, or fungi, but for discussion of animals. Human beings can be described using tetrapod biology. Ecology including behavioral eclology, population ecology, community ecology, system ecology, evolution, ecosystems, and biogeography is considered extremely useful as a foundation for physical anthropology. Biohistory is mostly useful for its discussion of the Cenozoic era. |
|
|
This depends most heavily on personal studies, principally including the human body. Body systems including structural systems more than vital, reproductive, or control systems get the most attention, but some is given to body functions, disease, life cycle, form, and appearance. Connections to psychology including behavioral elements, mind, behavioral patterns, developmental psychology, mental disorders, personality, and social psychology is not as evident. Connections to biography have not yet been made. |
|
|
It depends also on social foundations and on demography, including birth and fertility, migration, morbidity and mortality, population structure, and population change. It is also connected to Human ecology. It also depends on human geography and on its divisions of Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, South America, and Oceania as well as particular groups. |
|
|
Culture including material culture, conceptual culture, and behavioral culture may also be useful in physical anthropology. InstitutionsFamilies including marriage, parenting, kinship, and particular families are not as directly signifcant as other areas. Education including research, teaching, cultural institutions, educational organization, and particular schools will be useful. Economics including economic activities, industries, and economic systems has some connection. Government including law, government structure, government activity, and particular governments is important. There are important connections of religion including religious beliefs, practices, and organization. Particular religions including Abrahamic religion, Asiatic religion, pagan religion, and secularism can be connected. SociologySocial structure and change including social structure may be useful in studies of physical anthropology. Social types including hunting and gathering societies, horticultural societies, agrarian societies, and industrial societies can be connected. Social change including factors of change, processes of change, and particular changes may be useful. Communities such as Tokyo, Seoul, Mexico City, and New York City may also be useful. Peoples of the world may be applied. Nations such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Germany, Egypt, and Ethiopia can be connected. Western Civilization including Mexico, will be especially important. Anglic peoples including those of the United States are important. Latin peoples including those of Brazil are important. Northeast European peoples including those of Russia can be connected. Asiatic peoples including Japan can be considered. South Asian peoples such as those of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh can be considered. Oriental peoples including China can be considered. Southeast Asian peoples such as those of Indonesia can be considered. African peoples such as those found in Nigeria may also be useful. American Indian peoples including those of Mexico are less directl useful. South American Indian peoples such as those found in Brazil may be important. North American Indian peoples such as those found in the United States may be connectec. HistoryPrehistory, antiquity, and classical and medieval history can be connected to physical anthropology. Modern history up through the 16th century and 17th century is not very useful at present. I do not yet have many details of the 18th century including the early 18th century, early mid 18th century, mid 18th century, late mid 18th century, and late 18th century. In the 19th century, more mathematical and scientific methods began to be applied. So far I lack details on the early 19th century, early mid 19th century, mid 19th century, late mid 19th century, and late 19th century. In the 20th century, including the early 20th century, early-mid 20th century, mid 20th century, late-mid 20th century it has developed substantially. I do not yet have details for the late 20th century including the early 1980s, late 1980s, early 1990s, or late 1990s In the early 21st century, it has continued to develop. Events of the early 2000s and late 2000s down to 2006. 2007, and 2008 including the first quarter, second quarter with April, May, and June, third quarter to July, August, and September and fourth quarter including October and November are significant. Most of the future including the near future down to next month, next quarter, and next year, and the middle future and far future is speculative. |
|