Introduction to Biological Anthropology

Description

The aim of the course is learning about theories and methods of other fields in anthropology, situating socio-cultural anthropology in relation to biological/physical anthropology. The tasks of the course are covering theoretical approaches and an exchange of ideas between the fields are tackled following the development of the theory of evolution, race, and eugenics into modern population evolution theory. Biological and archaeological explanations for human diversity are explored looking at primatology and the development of humans and society, offering arguments within nature/nurture debate. The course addresses the development of physical anthropology in Latvia, exploring the history of the discipline. Language of instruction is Latvian and English.