Briefly Identity the Two Early Anthropologists,Franz Boas and Matilda Coxe

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The Answer is Franz Boas (1858–1942) and Matilda Coxe Stevenson (1849–1915) were two pioneering figures in the field of anthropology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Franz Boas, often referred to as the "Father of American Anthropology," was a German-American anthropologist who fundamentally shaped the discipline with his emphasis on cultural relativism and the importance of fieldwork. Boas argued against the prevailing theories of racial hierarchy and biological determinism of his time, advocating instead for the idea that culture shapes human behavior. He introduced the four-field approach to anthropology, integrating physical anthropology, archaeology, linguistic anthropology, and cultural anthropology as interconnected disciplines. Boas was also a mentor to many influential anthropologists, including Margaret Mead and Zora Neale Hurston.

Matilda Coxe Stevenson, on the other hand, was an American ethnologist and one of the first female anthropologists in the United States. She is best known for her work with the Native American tribes of the Southwestern United States, particularly the Zuni people. Stevenson was a pioneer in participant observation, living among the Zuni for extended periods to better understand their culture and social structures. Her work contributed significantly to the documentation of Zuni religion, rituals, and daily life. Stevenson was also a founding member of the Women's Anthropological Society of America and worked to promote the role of women in the field of anthropology.

Briefly Identity the Two Early Anthropologists,Franz Boas and Matilda Coxe

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