Cultural Anthropology: Tribes, States, and the Global System - Softcover

John H. Bodley

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0072870494 ISBN 13: 9780072870497

Publisher: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2005

Synopsis

This introductory text introduces basic concepts in cultural anthropology by comparing cultures of increasing scale and focusing on specific universal issues throughout human history. Cultural materials are presented in integrated ethnographic case studies organized by cultural and geographic areas to show how ideological, social organization, and material features fit together in specific sociocultural systems. John H. Bodley explicitly seeks a balance between ecological-materialist and cultural-ideological explanations of sociocultural systems, while stressing the importance of individual power-seeking and human agency. Part One examines domestic-scale, autonomous tribal cultures. Part Two presents politically organized, class-based civilizations and ancient empires in the imperial world. Part Three surveys global, industrial, market-based civilizations in the contemporary commercial world. Cultural Anthropology uniquely challenges students to consider the big questions about the nature of cultural systems.

About this title

About the Author:

John H. Bodley is Regents Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Washington State University.

About this edition

• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Higher Education
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0072870494
• ISBN 13: 9780072870497
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 4
• Number of pages: 577