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History and Theory of Anthropology I

Code: 107237
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Social and Cultural Anthropology OB 2

Contact lecturer

Name :
María Valdés Gázquez
Email :
maria.valdes@uab.cat

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

This subject has no prerequisites. It is recomended to course this subject before History and Theory of Anthropology II.

Objectives

Objectives

The aim of this course is to trace the historical development of social and cultural anthropology from its establishment as an academic discipline during the second half of the 19th century to the end of the interwar period in Europe and the United States. Its primary objective is to provide a historical framework for understanding the early classical theories, so that students can coherently contextualize the readings, which are covered in a scattered manner and systematized in very different ways in the other modules of the degree programme. By the end of the course, students should be familiar with:

  1. The general, theoretical and methodological characteristics of the various schools or currents that have emerged during this period in the history of anthropology;
  2. The socio-political contexts that have influenced these developments;
  3. The main theses and developments of each of the authors considered.

Learning outcomes

  • CM12 (Adequately integrate the theories associated with the history of anthropology.) Adequately integrate the theories associated with the history of anthropology.
  • KM10 (Recognise the history of anthropological theory, the genesis and evolution of its basic and foundational concepts of epistemology.) Recognise the history of anthropological theory, the genesis and evolution of its basic and foundational concepts of epistemology.
  • KM12 (Identify the production of ethnographic knowledge and theories in local contexts and diverse problems.) Identify the production of ethnographic knowledge and theories in local contexts and diverse problems.
  • SM14 (Critically interpret the basic bibliography that has shaped the history of anthropology.) Critically interpret the basic bibliography that has shaped the history of anthropology.
  • SM16 (Make a theoretical analysis of ethnographic examples of cultural diversity.) Make a theoretical analysis of ethnographic examples of cultural diversity.
  • SM17 (Generate ideas with a specific anthropological and theoretical vocabulary.) Generate ideas with a specific anthropological and theoretical vocabulary.

Contents

Thematic Block I: The Origins of Anthropology

Anthropology before anthropology. Reflections on otherness prior to the 19th century.

The immediate precursors to the anthropological works of the Enlightenment.

Anthropology and colonialism.


Thematic Block II: Victorian Evolutionism

Key influences beyond the legacy of the Enlightenment: C. Darwin and H. Spencer; K. Marx.

Theoretical and methodological aspects of the evolutionary approach.

L. H. Morgan, a paradigmatic evolutionary author (1818–1881).


Thematic Block III: Historical Particularism: Boas

Aspects of the theory and method of the diffusionist approach.

The historical development of cultural anthropology in the United States.

Historical particularism: the contribution of Franz Boas (1858–1942).


Thematic Block IV: The Birth of Social Anthropology

The influence of French sociology: Émile Durkheim (1858–1917) and the ‘social fact’.

Marcel Mauss (1872–1950) and other precursors of social anthropology.

British structural functionalism: Radcliffe-Brown and Malinowski.


Thematic Block V: Schools of thought continuing the Boasian legacy: the ‘Culture and Personality’ school

Linguistic anthropology and cultural relativism.

The ‘Culture and Personality’ school: influences and stages.

The contributions of Margaret Mead (1901–1978) and Ruth Benedict.

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Theoretical classes 30 1.2 CM12, KM10, KM12, SM16, SM17
Individual and group tutoring 5 0.2
Essay writing 30 1.2 CM12, KM10, KM12, SM17
Personal study and work 40 1.6 CM12, KM10, KM12
Seminars 10 0.4 CM12, KM10, KM12, SM14, SM16, SM17
Mandatory readings 10 0.4 CM12, KM10, KM12, SM14, SM16

A. Theoretical and practical classes led by teachers: Master classes with ICT support and seminars for discussion in a large group and discussion of texts.

B. Search for documentation, reading texts, writing works

C. Study: Making diagrams, conceptual maps and summaries.

D. Tutorials: Personalized attention to the student in the office or in the classroom. The office hours and place for tutorials will be announced the first day of class and also will be available at the Moodle classroom.


TEACHING MATERIAL

In order to follow the teaching rhythm of the course, students must make the required readings that will be indicated in classes. The general bibliography contained in this Teaching Guide offers manuals that students are expected to use to complement the syllabus beyond what is explained in the classroom. During the course it is possible that other complementary literature is recommended.


DYNAMICS OF WORK

The course consists of 5 thematic blocks. Each thematic block will be accompanied by one or more compulsory readings (chapters of a book or articles) that will be the basis for the discussion in class at the end of each thematic block. Compulsory readings complement the notes and will also be material to be taken into account for the assessment work. It can be asked the reading of a complete book or monograph related to one of the themed blocks, which will be indicated by the professor or should be chosen by the student from a list. Mandatory readings and the calendar for the exam and the delivery of works will be provided at the beginning of the course and will be availablein the moodle classroom.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Group writing of essays 25% 10 0.4 CM12, KM10, KM12, SM14, SM17
Written exams 50% 5 0.2 CM12, KM10, KM12, SM14, SM16, SM17
Class Participation and discussion of readings 25% 10 0.4 CM12, KM10, KM12, SM14, SM17

The evaluation of the course is understood to be a continuous and progressive process, which spans the entire academic term and is carried out through a range of assessment activities:

At the start of the course, a calendar will be provided setting out the submission dates for assignments, the discussions on the mandatory readings and the exam dates. A list of the mandatory readings will also be provided and will be available in PDF format on the Virtual Campus.


Work module (25% of the final grade):

Group project on a topic chosen by the students, relating to the period covered in the module and agreed with the lecturer. Guidelines for completing the project will be provided during the first few days of the module. In the final sessions of the module, the groups must give an oral presentation of their project in class.


Written exam module (50% of the final grade):

There will be two exams (each worth 25% of the final grade) covering the materials discussed in class and the mandatory readings.

To pass the course, a minimum final grade of 5 is required, calculated as the average of the marks for each module according to their weighting in the final mark. However, the grade for each of the mid-term exams must always be equal or above 5 in order to be included in the average alongside group work, comments and participation.


Participation module (25% of the final grade):

Throughout the course, there will be various discussions on the topics covered in class, and student participation is crucial. (10%)

The mandatory reading texts will be discussed in class; before each session, students must submit a commentary, the guidelines for which will be provided in the first few days of the course. (15%)

When each evaluation activity takes place, the teaching staff will inform students (in class and via the Virtual Campus) of the procedure and the date for reviewing marks.


EVALUATION IN CASE OF NON-PRESENTIAL SITUATION


Should it not be possible to undertake evaluation activities in person (with appropriate justification, e.g. due to illness), their format will be adapted (whilst maintaining their weighting) to the possibilities offered by the UAB’s online tools. Assignments, activities and class participation will be carried out via forums, wikis and/or discussions on exercises in Teams, etc. Teaching staff will ensure that students can access these or will provide alternative means that are within their reach.


EVALUATION CRITERIA

Absence or late submission of evaluation activities, without a duly justified and documented reason, will result in that activity not being assessed. Evaluation activities that do not comply with the formatting requirements set out in the guidelines and submission criteria will not be accepted.


ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

This module permits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies exclusively for bibliographic or information searches, text correction or translations. Students must (i) identify the sections that have been generated using AI; (ii) specify the tools used; and (iii) include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final outcome of the assignment. A lack of transparency regarding the use of AI in this assessed activity will be considered a breach of academic integrity and will result in the activity being marked as a zero and deemed irrecoverable, or in more severe sanctions in the most serious cases.


ON PLAGIARISM IN CLASS ASSIGNMENTS AND/OR CHEATING IN EXAMS

The current regulations shall apply: Article 116. Evaluation results (article amended by the Governing Council’s Resolution of 19 March 2015):

If a student commits any irregularity that could lead to a significant change in the mark for an activity, that activity will be graded with a 0, regardless of any disciplinary proceedings that may be initiated. In the event of several irregularities occurring in the evaluation activities for the same module, the final grade for that module will be 0.


NOT ASSESSABLE

Students who have failed and meet the criteria for assessment will be eligible for resit. No minimum grade is required to be eligible for the resit. The resit of the partial exams will consist of a test on the failed part of the program (the first partial, the second partial, or both if neither was passed). The group work must be resubmitted as a new version. The participation module is not resittable.


RE-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Students who have failed the module may sit a resit, provided they meet the assessment criteria (i.e. they have sat the exams and/or submitted the group assignments). There is no minimum grade required to access the resit. The re-assessment will consist of an exam covering the part of the module which they failed. The participation grade cannot be re-assessed.


UNIQUE EVALUATION


Work module (50% of the final mark):

An individual work on a topic chosen by the student from a list provided by the lecturer. The guidelines for the assignment and the assessment rubric will be provided during the first few days of the course.


Written exam module (50% of the final mark):

An examination will be set covering the material taught in class and the mandatory readings.


To pass the module, a minimum final mark of 5 is required, calculated as the average of the marks for each module according to their respective weightings in the final mark. However, the exam mark must always be equal or above 5 in order to be included in the average alongside the individual assignment.

The review procedure is the same as that for continuous assessment.

The re-assessment system is the same as that for continuous assessment.

The student will receive a ‘Not assessable’ mark if they do not complete either of the two evidence requirements set out in the single assessment.



Bibliography

ADAMS, William Y. (1998). The Philosophical Roots of Anthropology. Stanford University: CSLI Publications.

AZCONA, Jesús (1987). Para comprender la antropología, Estella, Verbo Divino, (vol. 1, "La historia"; vol. 2, "La cultura").

BARNARD, Alan & SPENCER, Jonathan (1996 [2002]). Encyclopedia of social and Cultural Anthropology, London: Routledge.

BARTH, Fredrik et alt. (2012). Una disciplina, cuatro caminos. Antropología británica, alemana, francesa y estadounidense. Buenos Aires: Prometeo Libros.

BONTE, Pierre & IZARD, Michael (1996). Diccionario de Etnología y Antropología, Madrid: Akal. BOHANNAN, Paul y GLAZER, Mark (1992). Antropología. Lecturas, Barcelona: McGraw Hill Interamericana. CARO BAROJA, Julio (1991). Los fundamentos del pensamiento antropológico moderno, Madrid: CSIC.

DARNELL, Regna (comp.) (1974). Readings in the History of Anthropology, New York: Harper & Row Publishers,

DESCOLA, Ph. et alt. (1988). Les idées de l'anthropologie, París: A. Colin.

DUCHET, Michele (1976). Introducción. Antropología e historia en el Siglo de las Luces. México: Siglo XXI Editores.

ENCICLOPEDIA INTERNACIONAL DE LAS CIENCIAS SOCIALES, dirigida por David L. Sills [Ed. Española, director Vicente Cervera Tomás], Madrid: Aguilar, 1974-1977.

ERIKSEN, Thomas Hylland & NIELSEN, Finn Sivert (2001). A history of Anthropology. London: Pluto Press. EVANS-PRITCHARD, E.E. (1987). Historia del pensamiento antropológico, Madrid: Cátedra.

HARRIS, Marvin (1983 [1968]). El desarrollo de la teoría antropológica,Madrid: Siglo XXI. KAHN,J.S. (ed.) (1975). El concepto de cultura: textos fundamentales, Barcelona: Anagrama. KILANI, Mondher (1996). Introduction à l'anthropologie, Paris: Editions Payot.

KUPER, Adam (1988). The Invention of Primitive Society. Transformations of an Illusion,New York: Routledge,

KUPER, Adam J. (1996). Ortodoxia y tabú. Apuntes críticos sobre la teoría antropológica. Barcelona: Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona.

LECLERCQ, George (1973). Antropología y colonialismo. Madrid: Alberto Corazón Editor.

LLOBERA, J.R. (1975). La antropología como ciencia, Barcelona, Anagrama (especialmente, Llobera, J.R.: "Postcriptum: algunas tesis provisionales sobre la naturaleza de la antropología", pág. 373-287)

LOMBARD, J. (1972). L´anthropologie britannique contemporaine, París: P.U.F. LOMBARD, J. (1997). Introducción a la etnología, Madrid: Alianza editorial.

LOWIE, R.H. (1946).Historia de la etnología, México: F.C.E.

MARZAL, M. (2016 [1996]). Historia de la Antropología. Volúmenes II (Antropología Cultural) y III ( Antropología Social), Quito: Ediciones Abya-Yala

MAUSS, Marcel (1971). Sociología y Antropología. Madrid: Editorial Tecnos. MERCIER, P. (1995). Historia de la antropología, Madrid: Península.

PALERM, A. (1974). Historia de la etnología: los precursores, México, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia.

PALERM, A. (1976). Historia de la etnología: los evolucionistas México, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia.

PALERM, A. (1977). Historia de la etnología: Tylor y los profesionales británicos, México, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia.

ROSSI, I. y O'HIGGINS, E. (1981). Teoríasde la cultura y métodos antropológicos, Barcelona: Anagrama.

STOCKING, G. W. (1982). Race, Culture and Evolution. Essays in the History of Anthropology, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

STOCKING, G. W. (1982). Introduction to A Franz Boas Reader. The Shaping of American Anthropology, 1883-1911, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

STOCKING, G. W. (ed.) (1985). Observers observed. Essays on Ethnographic Fieldwork [His-tory of Anthropology (I)], Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.

STOCKING, G. W. (ed.) (1985). Objects and Others. Essays on Museums and Material Culture [History of Anthropology (III)], Madison, University of Wisconsin Press.

STOCKING, G. W. (ed.) (1986). Malinowski, Rivers, Benedict and Others. Essays on Culture and Personality [History of Anthropology (IV)], Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.

STOCKING, G. W (1987). Victorian Anthropology, New York: The Free Press

STOCKING, G. W. (1987). The Progress of Civilization in the Enlightment. En Victorian Anthropology. Nueva York: The Free Press.

STOCKING, G. W. (1987). The Science of Progress in France. En Victorian Anthropology. Nueva York: The Free Press.

STOCKING. G. W. (1999).After Tylor. BritishSocial Anthropology, 1888-1951, London: The AthlonePress.

VALDÉS, María (1998). El pensamiento antropológico de Lewis H. Morgan. Bellaterra : UAB, Publicacions d'Antropologia Cultural.

VALDÉS, María (2006). El pensamiento antropológico de Franz Boas.Bellaterra : UAB, Publicacions d'Antropologia Cultural.

ZEITLIN, Irving (1982). El iluminismo: sus fundamentos filosóficos. En: mismo autor, Ideología y teoría sociológica (pp. 13-20). Buenos Aires: Amorrortu.


Software

MODDLE ON VIRTUAL CAMPUS

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed