MCQ Detailed View

The study of human culture is known as anthropology. This word is derived from the Greek roots anthropos (human) and logos (study or discourse). Anthropology is a broad field that examines human beings in terms of their societies, traditions, beliefs, customs, and overall way of life.

Culture itself is defined as the set of shared practices, values, ideas, arts, languages, and social behaviors that are transmitted from one generation to another. By studying culture, anthropologists help us understand how people adapt to different environments, how communities form and function, and how traditions shape human identity over time.

Anthropology is often divided into branches:

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  Cultural Anthropology – the direct study of human culture, customs, and traditions.

  
  


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  Archaeology – focuses on past human societies through artifacts and remains.

  
  


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  Linguistic Anthropology – studies human languages and their role in culture.

  
  


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  Physical or Biological Anthropology – examines human evolution and biological aspects.

  
  

It is also important to separate anthropology from other sciences. Ornithology deals with birds, psychology focuses on the human mind and behavior, and odology is not a recognized scientific term. Only anthropology is dedicated to the study of human culture as a whole.

The field is significant because it provides a scientific understanding of both the differences and similarities between societies across the world. For example, anthropologists explore how family structures vary between cultures, how rituals preserve community bonds, or how globalization influences cultural traditions.

In summary, the scientific study of human culture is called anthropology. It is an essential subject in Everyday Science because it explains the social and cultural dimensions of human life, helping us appreciate diversity and the shared human experience.