Window on Humanity: A Concise Introduction to Anthropology, 2/e
Conrad Kottak,
University of Michigan
ISBN: 0073530913 Copyright year: 2007
New to This Edition
Despite additions, cuts, revisions, and updating, the chapter titles and order remain the same as in the first edition. Charts, tables, and statistics have been updated with the most recent figures available. Eight new end-of-chapter boxes are included, to bring home anthropology's relevance to current issues and events. Charts, tables, and statistics have been updated with the most recent figures available. Eight new end-chapter boxes are included, to bring home anthropology’s relevance to current issues and events.
New information on urban growth in developing countries has been added to Chapter 1 ("Anthropology and Its Applications").
Chapter 2 ("Ethics and Methods") highlights the ethical dilemmas anthropologists increasingly confront, such as those surrounding NAGPRA and "Kennewick Man."
In Chapter 3 ("Evolution, Genetics, and Human Variation") the section on race has been revised to strengthen the point that human biological diversity is obvious and must be explained. This chapter now pays greater attention to diversity in contemporary North America.
Chapter 4 ("The Primates") has new visuals and new sections on chimp tool making, Pierolapithecus catalaunicus, and Orrorin tugenensis. There is new information on the first primates and a new box on endangered primates.
Chapter 5 ("The First Hominids") covers the latest finds and interpretations. There is a new box on Ardipithecus kadabba and a new section on Oldowan tool making. Visuals have been enhanced.
Based on recent discoveries confirming the expansion of early Homo erectus (sometimes called Homo ergaster) out of Africa, Chapter 6 ("The First Humans") describes recent fossil finds in Europe. It also includes the latest on the various theories for the origin of Homo sapiens. New information has been added on Dmanisi, Homo antecessor, and H. heidelbergensis. Visuals have been enhanced.
Chapter 7 ("The First Farmers") has new information on the African Neolithic and a new section on "Explaining the Neolithic."
Chapter 8 ("The First States") has been reorganized, placing the discussion of theories about the origin of the state at the beginning. Chapter 8 now parallels the structure of Chapter 7, which begins with theory and explanation, then discusses cases.
Chapter 9 ("Culture") has been updated based on recent writing and statistics. There is a new section on "Culture and the Individual: Agency and Practice," plus an expanded and clarified discussion of cultural particularities and patterns of culture. The section on globalization has been revised and updated.
Chapter 10 ("Ethnicity and Race") has been updated thoroughly, with the most recent sources and census data available in several key tables and new visuals. There is a new box on Basque ethnicity in Europe and the United States.
In Chapter 11 ("Language and Communication") the ebonics section has been revised substantially, with new information on creole languages.
Chapter 12 ("Making a Living") has been updated throughout, with an added case study of industrial alienation and a revised box on changing concepts of scarcity among the Betsileo.
Chapter 13 ("Political Systems") has been revised, updated, and slightly reorganized, with a new introductory section entitled "What is 'the Political'?"
In Chapter 14 ("Families, Kinship, and Marriage") there is new case material on divorce, and same-sex marriage has been revised to reflect recent legal actions and events in the U.S. and Canada. There is a new box on "Social Security, Kinship Style."
In Chapter 15 ("Gender") the latest relevant census data are included. The section on patriarchy has been revised, as has the section on sexual orientation.
Chapter 16 ("Religion") features a new introduction and a new box on Islam's expansion, an expanded discussion of defining religion, and new examples of magical and religious behavior in the contemporary United States.
Chapter 17 ("The Modern World System") has been updated and revised, with new discussions of outsourcing and global energy consumption (illustrated with a new table).
Chapter 18 ("Colonialism and Development") has been revised heavily. There are new sections on neoliberalism, Communism and its fall, and postsocialist transitions.
Chapter 19 ("Cultural Exchange and Survival") has a new box on global cultural diversity.
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2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education