[ANTH 2303] - Midterm Exam Guide - Comprehensive Notes for the exam (15 pages long!)

• School: University of Houston
• Department: Anthropology
• Course: ANTH 2303
• Professor: Widmer Randolph

Document Summary

Basic concepts of human behavior theory of culture core. Theory of culture core: much of culture is adaptive and that part of culture which is adaptive is in the culture core. Synchronic maintenance: the cultural traits that are used to keep groups alive during their lifetime. Diachronic maintenance: the cultural traits that are used to perpetuate the group through time. Culture is largely adaptive to the environment: physical environment, social environment this includes other cultures, historical environment cultural norms, expectations; historical adaptation maintains the status quo of cultures. Agriculture cultural modification of the environment to improve growing conditions for plants and animals. Domestication genetic modification of plants and animals to create desirable species. Levels of sociocultural integration: types of cultures: 1) bands 2) big man society (tribe) 3) chiefdom 4) state, this system of classification is not evolutionary, these groups do not necessarily.