ANT-3451 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Franz Boas, Caucasian Race, Unilineal Evolution
Document Summary
Ethnocentrism and racism: 20th century anthro: Franz boas: holistic study of culture; believed in cultural relativism. He was jewish in germany in late 1800s, left germany and started american anthro. Reinforces belief in biological inferiority of people of color. Used science to confirm their religious beliefs women to lesser races. To justify european colonization, capitalism, and slavery. It"s possible because they did notice physical differences. Provides a scapegoat to blame when something goes wrong. The great chain of being -> the idea that god created the simplest organism to the most complex in order; ranking of races. 1758 -> linnaeus : europa, after, asiaticus, americanus = continental. > blumenbach caucasoid, mongoloid, malayan, american, negroid, degenerates from caucasoid = ethnic. > darwin links non-whites stages linking apes and humans and likened. Fancis galton - father of eugenics; social issues attributed to mendelian traits; restricted immigration and forced sterilization in us, scandinavia, eastern europe and cuba.
