Anthropology Optional Topic-wise source (Paper I)

1.1 Meaning, scope and development of Anthropology.


• Core material: Braintree
• Value Addition: Ember & Ember


1.2 Relationships with other disciplines: Social Sciences, Behavioural Sciences, Life Sciences, Medical Sciences, Earth Sciences and Humanities.


• Core material: Braintree
• Value Addition: Ember & Ember


1.3 Main branches of Anthropology, their scope and relevance:
1. Social- cultural Anthropology.
2. Biological Anthropology.
3. Archaeological Anthropology.
4. Linguistic Anthropology.


• Core material: Braintree
• Value Addition: Ember & Ember


1.4 Human Evolution and emergence of Man:
1. Biological and Cultural factors in human evolution.
2. Theories of Organic Evolution (Pre- Darwinian, Darwinian and Post-Darwinian).
3. Synthetic theory of evolution; Brief outline of terms and concepts of evolutionary biology (Doll’s rule, Cope’s rule, Gause’s rule, parallelism, convergence, adaptive radiation, and mosaic evolution).


• Core material: P. Nath
• Value Addition: Ember & Ember
• Telugu Academy ( By Ashima Mittal)
• For answer structure and diagrams, refer Anthropology Simplified
• Get a solid grasp of evolution and its concepts such as: Genetic recombination, directional selection, Adaptive radiation, Darwinism, Parallelism, Neo-Darwinism etc (Given well in Ember. Use internet as well)
• Innovate in your answers. Ex: You can depict genetic recombination through a diagram and adaptive radiation through a flowchart. Quote examples for topics like adaptive radiation.


1.5 Characteristics of Primates; Evolutionary Trend and Primate Taxonomy; Primate Adaptations; (Arboreal and Terrestrial) Primate Taxonomy; Primate Behaviour; Tertiary and Quaternary fossil primates; Living Major Primates; Comparative Anatomy of Man and Apes; Skeletal changes due to erect posture and its implications.


• Primary Source: P. Nath
• For better diagrams/sketches – Use Ember & Ember, Google, Anthropology Simplified and notes of Kirthi (AIR-14, CSE 2015) published in this Insights article.
• Go through previous years question papers and prepare notes for most important topics. It’s static and highly scoring
• Must draw diagrams with proper labelling. For example, when you draw skulls of ape and human, you should comparatively point out changes in parts such as Zygomatic arch, Foramen magnum, Sagittal crest etc.  Practise diagrams to show evolutionary changes not just in the skull but also foot, spinal cord, pelvis, dentition etc
• Dedicate adequate time to practise neat drawings. Your aim must be to attempt as many questions as you can from topics like these and max out your scores.




1.6 Phylogenetic status, characteristics and geographical distribution of the following :
1. Plio-preleistocene hominids in South and East Africa—Australopithecines.
2. Homo erectus : Africa (Paranthropus), Europe (Homo erectus (heidelbergensis)), Asia (Homo erectus javanicus, Homo erectus pekinensis.
3. Neanderthal man—La-chapelle-aux-saints (Classical type), Mt. Carmel (Progressive type).
4. Rhodesian man.
5. Homo saoiens—Cromagnon, Grimaldi and Chancelede.



Primary Source: P. Nath Use Ember & Ember and Anthropology Simplified for value addition and diagrams Practise diagrams for: Australopithecus, Homo Erectus, Rhodesian man, Neanderthal man, Cro Magnon, Grimaldi, Chancelade Prepare thoroughly on each and every fossil mentioned in the syllabus. Focus on: Phylogenetic Status (i.e. its place in the evolution tree, who are its ancestors/successors, etc.) Characteristics (physical, cultural aspects, time-span of the fossil) Geographical distribution Who discovered the first fossil, where & when Distribution of the fossil in other parts of the world Draw map depicting site names







1.7 The biological basis of Life : The Cell, DNA structure and replication, Protein Synthesis, Gene, Mutation, Chromosomes, and Cell Division.



I prepared this unit entirely from the Khan academy YouTube channel Refer to PDF Slides for diagrams and value addition DNA replication, translation, protein synthesis must be illustrated with diagrams Highly scoring





1.8


1. Principles of Prehistoric Archaeology.
Chronology: Relative and Absolute Dating methods.



Ember & Ember









2. Cultural Evolution- Broad Outlines of Prehistoric cultures:
1. Paleolithic
2. Mesolithic
3. Neolithic
4. Chalcolithic
5. Copper-Bronze Age
6. Iron Age



I skipped this subtopic for lack of time.





2.1 The Nature of Culture: The concept and characteristics of culture and civilization; Ethnocentrism vis-à-vis cultural Relativism.



Primary Source: BrainTree Value addition: Ember and Ember







2.2 The Nature of Society: Concept of Society; Society and Culture; Social Institutions; Social groups; and Social stratification.



Primary Source: BrainTree Value addition: Ember and Ember



2.3 Marriage: Definition and universality; Laws of marriage (endogamy, exogamy, hypergamy, hypogamy, incest taboo); Types of marriage (monogamy, polygamy, polyandry, group marriage). Functions of marriage; Marriage regulations (preferential, prescriptive and proscriptive); Marriage payments (bride wealth and dowry).


2.4 Family : Definition and universality; Family, household and domestic groups; functions of family; Types of family (from the perspectives of structure, blood relation, marriage, residence and succession); Impact of urbanization, industrialization and feminist movements on family.


2.5 Kinship : Consanguinity and Affinity; Principles and types of descent (Unilineal, Double, Bilateral Ambilineal); Forms of descent groups (lineage, clan, phratry, moiety and kindred); Kinship terminology (descriptive and classificatory); Descent, Filiation and Complimentary Filiation;Decent and Alliance.


3. Economic Organization : Meaning, scope and relevance of economic anthropology; Formalist and Substantivist debate; Principles governing production, distribution and exchange (reciprocity, redistribution and market), in communities, subsisting on hunting and gathering, fishing, swiddening, pastoralism, horticulture, and agriculture; globalization and indigenous economic systems.


4. Political Organization and Social Control : Band, tribe, chiefdom, kingdom and state; concepts of power, authority and legitimacy; social control, law and justice in simple Societies.


5. Religion : Anthropological approaches to the study of religion (evolutionary, psychological and functional); monotheism and polytheism; sacred and profane; myths and rituals; forms of religion in tribal and peasant Societies (animism, animatism, fetishism, naturism and totemism); religion, magic and science distinguished; magico-religious functionaries (priest, shaman, medicine man, sorcerer and witch).





2.3, 2.4, 2.5; 3, 4 and 5 – Marriage, Family, Kinship, Economic Organisation, Political Organisation, Religion Most important chapters of Socio-Cultural Anthro. Primary Sources: Braintree Use Ember & Ember for value addition, especially for world tribe examples. Note down all of them in an A4 sheet and memorise. For all the terms (marriage, religion, magic etc), definitions must be a scholarly one. Cram word to word and replicate in your paper. Always include names of relevant Anthropologist’s name, publication year, name and the tribe on which the study was done. Eg: If you talk about Kula Ring, your answer will be incomplete without quoting Malinowski and his work on Trobriand Islanders. Same goes with Totemism and Durkheim. Also, your answer will stand out only when you quote many examples. Just quoting Indian tribe examples won’t be enough. For instance, if you are explaining Balanced Reciprocity, you must quote at least a couple of world tribes (Eg: trade between !Kung and Tswana Buntu) that practice it and the significance of such a system in the tribe. Source these examples from Ember and the internet. Diagrams and schematics for marriage, kinship, descent are absolutely crucial. Ember & Ember has some good diagrams (Eg: Kula ring exchange map) and tables. Practise. For economic anthropology, memorise examples such as that of potlatch: Chinook of Northern Pacific, Kwakiutl of British Columbia. Also mug up examples for tribes for each of fishing/pastoral/horticulture etc. More the examples, better it is. Also practice rough diagrams of tools used by these communities. For political organisation chapter, source examples from Ember and Ember. As I had mentioned, quote anthropologists, their works and tribe’s names. Religion: Same approach as above





6. Anthropological theories:
1. Classical evolutionism (Tylor, Morgan and Frazer)
2. Historical particularism (Boas); Diffusionism (British, German and American)
3. Functionalism (Malinowski); Structural- functionlism (Radcliffe-Brown)
4. Structuralism (L’evi – Strauss and E. Leach)
5. Culture and personality (Benedict, Mead, Linton, Kardiner and Cora – du Bois).
6. Neo – evolutionism (Childe, White, Steward, Sahlins and Service)
7. Cultural materialism (Harris)
8. Symbolic and interpretive theories (Turner, Schneider and Geertz)
9. Cognitive theories (Tyler, Conklin)
10. Post- modernism in anthropology



Primary Source: Ember & Ember Additional Details: University of Alabama’s website, Braintree Prepare short notes on each theory. Expand on: Why it emerged? Main thinkers and their major works Tribes on which the study was done Criticism Balanced conclusion This being a very important chapter, you can go a little deep into each theory and each thinker. You can read on the internet about the most important work of each anthropologist mentioned in the syllabus. For example, if you read a little deeper about Clifford Geertz and his work, you will understand how he described the Balinese cockfight and its relationship to the society at large. These will help you write great answers. The amount of time you invest in this chapter will never go waste. Questions definitely come from this chapter and if you write an in-depth answer, it’s a great chance to outshine your competition.



7. Culture, language and communication: 
    Nature, origin and characteristics of language; verbal and non-verbal communication; social context of language use.



Braintree Ember & Ember Anthropology Simplified







8. Research methods in anthropology:
1. Fieldwork tradition in anthropology
2. Distinction between technique, method and methodology
3. Tools of data collection: observation, interview, schedules, questionnaire, Case study, genealogy, life-history, oral history, secondary sources of information, participatory methods.
4. Analysis, interpretation and presentation of data.



Primary Source: Braintree Easy and scoring topic Always mention the name of prominent anthropologist associated with a particular method and their works. E.g. Participant-Observation method used by Malinowski for his study on Trobriand Islanders, Genealogical Method by W.H. Rivers, etc.







9.1 Human Genetics – Methods and Application:
Methods for study of genetic principles in man-family study (pedigree analysis, twin study, foster child, co-twin method, cytogenetic method, chromosomal and karyo-type analysis), biochemical methods, immunological methods, D.N.A. technology and recombinant technologies.


9.2 Mendelian genetics in man-family study, single factor, multifactor, lethal, sub-lethal and polygenic inheritance in man.


9.3 Concept of genetic polymorphism and selection, Mendelian population, Hardy-Weinberg law; causes and changes which bring down    frequency – mutation, isolation, migration, selection, inbreeding and genetic drift. Consanguineous and non-consanguineous mating, genetic load, genetic effect of consanguineous and cousin marriages.


9.4 Chromosomes and chromosomal aberrations in man, methodology.
1. Numerical and structural aberrations (disorders).
2. Sex chromosomal aberrations – Klinefelter (XXY), Turner (XO), Super female (XXX), intersex and other syndromic disorders.
3. Autosomal aberrations – Down syndrome, Patau, Edward and Cri-du-chat syndromes.
4. Genetic imprints in human disease, genetic screening, genetic counseling, human DNA profiling, gene mapping and genome study.



9.1 to 9.4 – Human Genetics, et al Primary Source: P. Nath. PDF material for value addition Anthropology Simplified for diagrams Use internet extensively to know about technical terms such as Genetic load, genetic drift.Your clarity  of concepts must be impeccable. Go through previous years questions from this chapter and prepare notes for all of them Value addition: You can write about latest advances in Genetics such as Epigenome, methylation and its impact on Gene expression etc to make your answers more contemporary. You can get this content from newspapers and the internet.





9.5 Race and racism, biological basis of morphological variation of non-metric and characters. Racial criteria, racial traits   in relation to heredity and environment; biological basis of racial classification, racial differentiation and race crossing in man.



Primary Source: P. Nath Mug up physical characteristics of major races of the world





9.6 Age, sex and population variation as genetic marker :
ABO, Rh blood groups, HLA Hp, transferring, Gm, blood enzymes. Physiological characteristics-Hb level, body fat, pulse rate, respiratory functions and sensory perceptions in different cultural and socioecomomic groups.





P. Nath



9.7 Concepts and methods of Ecological Anthropology :
Bio-cultural Adaptations—Genetic and Non-genetic factors.
Man’s physiological responses to environmental stresses: hot desert, cold, high altitude climate.



Core material: P. Nath You can value add from Ember and Ember: Note down adaptation and acclimatization examples







9.8 Epidemiological Anthropology : Health and disease.
Infectious and non-infectious diseases, Nutritional deficiency related diseases.



I prepared this topic from the PDF material and Anthropology Simplified





10. Concept of human growth and Development : Stages of growth—pre-natal, natal, infant, childhood, adolescence, maturity, senescence.
—Factors affecting growth and development genetic,environmental, biochemical, nutritional, cultural and socio-economic.
—Ageing and senescence. Theories and observations
—Biological and chronological longevity. Human physique and somatotypes. Methodologies for growth studies.





Primary Source: P. Nath Prepare short notes for each topic Graphs and examples are indispensible. They will enrich your answers.



11.1 Relevance of menarche, menopause and other bioevents to fertility. Fertility patterns and differentials.


11.2 Demographic theories-biological, social and cultural.


11.3 Biological and socio-ecological factors influencing fecundity, fertility, natality and mortality.





P. Nath Practise graphs and diagrams (Eg: Demographic Transition Theory etc) You may use internet to enrich the content. Prepare short notes.



12.  Applications of Anthropology: Anthropology of sports, Nutritional anthropology, Anthropology in designing of defence and other equipments, Forensic Anthropology, Methods and principles of personal identification and reconstruction, Applied human genetics – Paternity diagnosis, genetic counseling and eugenics, DNA technology in diseases and medicine, serogenetics and cytogenetics in reproductive biology.



Primary Source: P. Nath Value Addition: Anthropology Simplified, Internet, PDF material Very important topic of Paper I. Practise diagrams wherever appropriate Eg: in DNA technology, Forensic Anthropology, serogenetics and cytogenetics etc Scour the internet to understand about the latest research and developments in various fields wherein Anthropology is being applied for practical purpose. This is way you make your answers stand out from the rest.





Other Source:




• Social – Cultural Anthropology
• An Introduction of Social Cultural Anthropology – N.K Vaid
• Introducing Sociology – N.C.E.R.T Class 11
• Anthropological Theories : Muniratnam Sir notes and https://anthropology.ua.edu/cultures/cultures.php
Video Links Malinowski:
• Link
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Margaret Mead:
• Link
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Selected Topics
• Definition of Marriage: Link
• Sociology v/s Anthropology History v/s Anthropology:
• Video1
• Video2
• Marriage Payments and Reciprocity: Link
• Formalists v/s Substantivists debate: Link
• Principles of Pre historic archaeology
• Video Links on Human Evolution: Link
• Indian Prehistory by D.K Bhattacharya: Video lectures ( However it covers the subject quite extensively, one only needs to find the relevant videos for UPSC) : Link
• Biological Anthropology
• Physical Anthropology – P. Nath and B.M. Das
• Biology Class 12thC.E.R.T
• Vaid Sir Printed Notes
• Muniratnam Sir Notes:
• Video1
• Video2
• Evolutionary Changes in Skull: Link
• Biological Anthropology ( Meaning & Scope): Link
• Is Inbreeding Harmful?: Link
• Pedigree Analysis: Link
• Definition of Primates: Link