Importance of Studying Anthropology

Anthropology is a broad concept that involves the study of the factors and elements that makes us human. Often known as holism, the job of an anthropologist is to study and research different human experiences. Basically, this study involves the understanding of humans and the necessary factors that help us survive. You also get to learn the history of humans, how they evolved, people who lived centuries ago, things they needed to survive, and so on.

In this course, you get to learn genetics and the roles they play in creating your bodies. Other than that, anthropology is associated with the study of diet, lifestyle, bones, health, and other such human-based elements. It involves human comparison with animals in order to figure what makes humans different from animals and the other species present on earth. Sure, both animals and humans need food, companionship, water, sleep, shelter, and other such necessities to survive. The difference lies in the way we procure food and live. For instance, the food we eat is completely different from animal food.

The Subfields of Anthropology

Anthropology is divided into four subfields. Even though all of them share similarities, they involve different concepts. The four subfields of anthropology are:

- Archaeology

In archaeology, you get to study human culture and their inventions. For example, the study involves the discovery of pottery, ancient tools, trash pits, and other such materials. Archeologists use human bones as well as teeth to know the food they ate in the previous era and the ailments they dealt with.

The main purpose of this study is to understand how nature and people evolved over time. How they lived in the past era, what food they ate, what lifestyle they followed, the types of diseases they suffered, and etc.

- Biological Anthropology

Another famous classification of anthropology is Biological anthropology. This concept involves the study of diseases in the previous era, the way people fought with the ailments, and how they survive. Basically, it involves the study of how humans embraced the environment and survived.

- Cultural Anthropology

In cultural anthropology, people learn about different places and how people adapt themselves to particular environments. In this study, you get to learn the way people preferred to communicate with each other.

Even if you live in the same country or region, you may have different opinions on the dresses one should wear, the food you must eat, places you must visit, cultures you should follow, and etc. Cultural anthropology helps you learn the society as a whole. How people and their culture differ from one another? How they live in the same society but have a different point of view? What makes them similar? What practice do they follow?

- Linguistic Anthropology

As the name implies, linguistic anthropology is the study of how people use different languages to interact with each other. It also involves the study of how language plays a key role in defining a particular culture. How did languages change over time? What language do people prefer at home? What types of languages are spoken in the world? And, so on.

How the Study of Anthropology Benefit You?

Anthropology is not only important but an interesting subject. Choose anthropology as your main subject and you will come across some super interesting facts and news you might have never heard of. If you haven't decided on the subject for college yet, here are the reasons you must choose anthropology.

1. Economic Benefits

We live in a world where global marketing has become quite common. If you want to expand your firm to the global sectors, you not only need to learn a foreign language but understand the country's culture. The existence of anthropology is quite crucial for companies.

With the help of cultural anthropology, business manager residing in the United Arab Emirates can learn the history and culture of the United States. When you learn about the culture, tradition, rituals, and lifestyle of people living in America; there is a high chance that you will settle the business deal easily.

2. Cross-disciplinary Subject

You might have heard of several disciplines that talk about different features of humanity. For example, history helps you to learn the ancient era and historical deals; biology teaches you the makeup of the human body; literature features the writings of different people. When you choose anthropology as the main subject, you get to learn all these concepts in one course. As mentioned before, anthropology has four subfields.

Whether you are curious about the cultural environment in countries or the biological system of humans; anthropology has everything you are curious about.

3. Curiosity

Have you ever wondered how we came into this world? What we were before being born as humans? How our ancestors survived on earth? How did they adapt to the environment? What ailments did the people suffer in the past? How genetics make the human body?

Curiosity is part of human life. It answers all the questions related to humanity. No matter what you are curious about, this course is the perfect solution to find the answers to your long-pending questions.

4. Cultural Connections

We live in a world where people follow different cultures and practices. Even if you live in the same society, you follow different rituals. For example, people belonging to a specific culture prefer to eat the meat of the animals that are regarded as holy animals in other cultures. From worshipping practices to the regular lifestyle; there is a vast difference between humans when it comes to culture.

Anthropology helps you to learn about different cultures and understand what all rituals do the people of a particular culture follow. It also helps you to find the similarities and differences between the two cultures.

Anthropology is one of the interesting subjects. It involves all those concepts that people not only find interesting but valuable. Understanding different cultures, linguistic skills, the biological formation of our bodies, and the history of humans are some of the important concepts you get to learn in Anthropology.