Introduction to Anthropology
Sichuan University, June, July 2014
Instructor: Prof. Gerald F. Murray, Dept. of Anthropology, University of Florida
This brief two-week course will meet during 16 hours. The goal is to introduce students to the
discipline of Anthropology. We will be focusing on Cultural Anthropology, but we will also examine the
“four-field” approach that has emerged in Anthropology as practiced in the U. S.

Biological anthropology, which studies the evolution of Homo sapiens from earlier human
species and pre- human hominid and primate species.

Archeology, which studies the evolution of human cultures, specializing in the reconstruction of
cultures that left no written records.

Anthropological linguistics, which studies the origin, evolution, structure, and functions of the
universal human capacity for language.

Cultural anthropology, which focuses on living cultures and ethnic groups.
The course, however, will focus on Cultural Anthropology, which is the instructor’s subfield. We will be
examining the ways in which cultural anthropologists have studied the evolution of economic systems,
kinship, family and marriage systems, healing systems, and religious systems. Reference will be made
throughout the course to the origins and evolution of diverse cultural traditions in China
Though time is limited, the lectures will attempt to discuss at least briefly the following topics.

Cultural evolution and cultural diversity. Among other goals, cultural anthropology attempts to
describe, interpret, and where possible explain the causes that lead different societies to adopt
different ways of behaving and thinking. We will briefly examine different economic, marriage,
healing, and religious systems, including those that have prevailed at different points of Chinese
history. We will explore different theoretical frameworks for explaining the evolution of
cultural diversity.

The preservation of cultures. With globalization and the expansion of a “world system”, there
have been pressures for local cultures to assimilate and in some cases to die out. We will
examine how different societies, and minority groups within larger societies, maintain their
cultural and linguistic identities despite international or national pressures to assimilate.

Warfare and slavery. In the course of history, humans have devised systems to kill and enslave
other humans. Anthropologists have examined the causes and consequence of these
unpleasant dimensions of human society.

Human impact on the environment. Some human cultures have modified and damaged the
environment. We will examine the causes of ecological devastation as well as recent attempts
to protect the environment.

Applied anthropology. We will also the ways in which anthropology can be applied to the
solution of practical policy issues – such as the design of more effective educational, medical ,
environmental, or other social programs. Students will be asked to examine to what degree
such anthropological contributions could be relevant to Chinese society.
Because of the brevity of the course, we cannot go into depth on any of these topics. But
anthropological approaches to these matters can be briefly discussed in the lectures. Whereas Cultural
Anthropology in China has focused heavily on the traditions and customs of ethnic minorities,
Anthropology in the West has begun to deal with issues affecting specific human populations and our
entire species as a whole.
Requirements.
Depending on the size of the enrollment, students will do either brief writing
assignments based on the classroom lectures or take an exam on the final day of class. Final decisions as
to requirements will be made when the size of the class has been determined.
Attendance will be monitored and counted for 15% of the grade.