Curated category
Cultural anthropology
- Magic (supernatural)The English word magic traces its lineage back to the Old Persian term maguš, a designation for a specific priestly class within ancient Persia.
- PatriarchyThe Greek word patriarkhēs literally means the rule of the father. It combines patria for lineage and arkhē for domination or authority.
- EthnologyAdam František Kollár published a book in Vienna during 1783 that introduced the word ethnologia. This text defined the term as the science of nations and…
- Nomadic pastoralismA herder in Nigeria moves cattle across dry earth to find fresh grass. This act defines nomadic pastoralism, a practice where livestock are herded to seek…
- Anarcho-primitivismJean-Jacques Rousseau wrote the Discourse on Inequality during the Enlightenment era. He blamed agriculture and cooperation for creating social inequality.
- Western cultureThe year 395 marked the permanent splitting of the Roman Empire into Western and Eastern halves, creating a cultural divide that persists to this day.
- CivilizationThe word civilization relates to the Latin civis, meaning citizen. It describes a society made up of cities. This definition comes from the National…