Teaching Company - Biological Anthropology: An Avolutionary Persecptive (Volume 1 &2)

When we consider ourselves, not as static beings fixed in time but as dynamic, ever-changing creatures, our viewpoint of human history becomes different and captivating. The crucial element of "time depth" has revolutionized the very questions we ask about ourselves. "Who are we?" has turned into "What have we become? What are we becoming?" What makes this viewpoint possible is the evolutionary perspective offered by biological anthropology through the study of the evolution, genetics, anatomy, and modern variation within the human species. The goal of this course is a comprehensive exploration of the dynamic interplay between biology and culture that shaped human prehistory. In exploring the sweep of human evolution from 6 million to 30,000 years ago, you learn how that interplay continues to shape our lives today. Subjects discussed include natural selection, the development of hominids, prehistoric gender roles, the origins of language, the biology of race, and a consideration of modern human life from an evolutionary perspective.