ABSTRACT
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It seeks to understand and explain how human societies work. This chapter traces some of how anthropology has evolved since its beginnings in the mid nineteenth century. The key schools of thought and approaches that arise from conducting anthropological research in a world of escalating complexity are discussed. The specific aims of the chapter are to:
• chart the evolution of social anthropology; • discuss the main approaches to anthropology; (and) • identify some of the future directions that anthropology
might take.
