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

Bodley, John H.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0759118663 ISBN 13: 9780759118669

Publisher: AltaMira Press,U.S., 2011

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. 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

From the Publisher:

For domestic-scale, autonomous tribal cultures, political-scale, class-based civilizations, and commercial-scale, industrial and market-based civilizations, universal issues about the human condition are explored from a comparative, anthropological perspective.
The text focuses on a few cultures in great depth, offering extended examples of selected sociocultural systems and detailed ethnographic analyses.
Students are challenged to consider big questions about the nature of humanity and cultural systems: How do cultures of different scale meet the challenge of maximizing human security? What human inequalities are natural and which are cultural? What are the human costs and benefits of socioeconomic growth?
The author takes a critical look at our global future by examining capitalism, industrialization, development issues, humanitarian concerns, and environmental issues.
The text provides strong critical thinking and learning aids including study questions, timelines, two types of glossaries, chapter summaries, suggested readings, and a bibliography.
The theoretical focus has been simplified to emphasize the interconnected themes of culture, cultural process, growth, and social power.
Culture scale labels have been changed from "small-, large-, and global-scale" to "domestic-, political-, and commercial-scale."
The dual emphasis on biology and culture has been strengthened.
The text includes new ethnohistorical data on European and American industrialization including information on American "power elites."
A discussion of the risks and rewards of commercial culture is incorporated throughout the text.

About the Author:

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

About this edition

• Publisher: AltaMira Press,U.S.
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0759118663
• ISBN 13: 9780759118669
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 5
• Number of pages: 648