What were the early influences on anthropology?

The early influences on anthropology were shaped by a variety of disciplines and cultural shifts, particularly during the 19th century. Key factors that contributed to the development of anthropology include:

1. Colonialism and Exploration: As European powers expanded their empires across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, they encountered diverse cultures and societies. This exposure led to the collection of data about different peoples, their customs, languages, and beliefs. Early anthropologists often worked as colonial administrators, missionaries, or explorers, gathering this information for the European public.
2. Evolutionary Theory: Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, published in On the Origin of Species (1859), had a profound influence on anthropology. Anthropologists like Herbert Spencer and Edward Burnett Tylor applied ideas of evolution to human societies, positing that cultures, like species, evolve over time. This perspective led to the development of unilineal evolutionism, which suggested that all societies pass through similar stages of development (e.g., from savagery to civilization).
3. Social and Cultural Theory: Early anthropological thought was influenced by emerging social and cultural theories. Figures like Auguste Comte (who developed positivism) and Émile Durkheim (who focused on social facts and solidarity) laid the groundwork for understanding society and culture scientifically. Durkheim’s work in sociology, particularly his study of religion and social structure, influenced anthropologists’ understanding of culture.
4. Ethnography and Fieldwork: Early anthropologists began to focus on direct study of people through ethnography. Franz Boas, known as the father of American anthropology, emphasized the importance of fieldwork and the collection of data through immersion in a society. He challenged earlier ideas of racial superiority and promoted cultural relativism, the view that cultures should be understood on their own terms rather than judged by the standards of another culture.
5. History and Archaeology: The study of ancient civilizations and artifacts also influenced anthropology, particularly through the work of archaeologists like Lewis Henry Morgan, who studied the Iroquois people and their social structure. His work on kinship systems and the development of societies contributed to the understanding of cultural evolution.
6. Anthropological Methodologies: Early anthropologists began to develop methodologies that emphasized observation, participant observation, and documentation. These methods were crucial in moving anthropology from speculative theorizing to a more empirical, data-driven discipline.