Anthropology

Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, examining human beings across all societies and throughout the whole span of human existence. It asks how people live, how cultures differ and resemble one another, and how humans evolved as a species. Because the subject is so broad, it is usually divided into several subfields. Cultural anthropology studies living societies and their customs and beliefs; biological anthropology examines human evolution and physical variation; linguistic anthropology looks at language; and archaeology investigates past societies through their material remains.

Archaeology is closely tied to anthropology and provides much of what is known about cultures that left no written records. By excavating settlements, tools, pottery, art and burials, archaeologists reconstruct how earlier peoples lived, traded and organised themselves. The civilizations of the Americas illustrate the reach of this work: the Maya built cities and developed writing and astronomy in Mesoamerica, the Aztec founded a powerful empire centred on the Valley of Mexico, and the Inca governed a vast Andean state from the highlands of Peru.

Many ancient societies are remembered as “lost empires” because their cities were abandoned and rediscovered only later. Studying such cultures involves comparing evidence from anthropology, archaeology and history to understand how complex societies arise, flourish and decline. The discipline emphasises understanding each culture on its own terms while also drawing broader conclusions about the human experience.

Frequently asked questions

What are the main branches of anthropology?

The principal subfields are cultural anthropology, biological (physical) anthropology, linguistic anthropology and archaeology, each studying a different aspect of humanity.

How does archaeology relate to anthropology?

Archaeology is often considered a branch of anthropology. It studies past human societies through the material objects and structures they left behind.

Who were the Maya, Aztec and Inca?

They were major pre-Columbian American civilizations: the Maya and Aztec in Mesoamerica and the Inca in the Andes, each with advanced cities and social organisation.