Cultural Evolution and Change

(cross-leveled with ANTHRO 7340). Humans are a striking anomaly in the natural world. While we are similar to other mammals in many ways, our behavior and culture set us apart. Our unparalleled ability to culturally adapt has allowed us to occupy every habitat on earth using an incredible variety of tools and subsistence techniques. Our societies are larger, more complex, and more cooperative than any other mammal. This is a class on human cultural variation using evolutionary theory to explain our unique characteristics. Prerequisites: ANTHRO 2030 or instructor’s consent.